Staten Island can’t stop M.V., but Scrappers can’t stop rain

July 28, 2012 at 12:10a.m.

By STEVE WILAJ

niles

On Friday night at Eastwood Field, Mahoning Valley Scrappers starting pitcher Jake Sisco was effective, while shortstop Robel Garcia had a superb day at the plate.

But the most dominant performance was by Mother Nature.

The doubleheader that was supposed to feature two seven-inning games between the Scrappers and the Staten Island Yankees ended early because of rainstorms.

While the first game — a 5-3 Scrappers victory in only six innings — was played, the second game was canceled altogether. The 3,260 fans that attended sat through a 25-minute pregame rain delay along with the 46-minute rain delay that eventually proved triumphant.

“It’s too bad,” said Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak. “I’ve never seen a field have that much water as it had in the afternoon. There was just so much it wouldn’t seep in.

“It was just too wet for the players.”

Still, not all was lost, as the Scrappers improved to 20-18 with the rain-shortened victory.

The home team got on the board in the second inning with a spark from the bottom half of the batting order. A single by Evan Frazar, walk by Jeremy Lucas, and single by Juan Romero loaded the bases for No. 9 hitter Robel Garcia.

Garcia, entering the game hitting .223, lined a two-run double into the left field corner. Leadoff hitter Hunter Jones then made it 4-0 with a two-run single to left field.

“[Garcia]’s aggressive at the plate,” Kubiak said. “He’s not intimidated by anyone at the plate from what I see.”

Four runs would be all Scrappers starting pitcher Jake Sisco would need to secure his first victory of the season.

Sisco, a third round pick by the Cleveland Indians in 2011, pounded the strike zone in 52/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.

“He pitched well,” Kubiak said. “It’s a good win for him. He’s been doing well.”

The Yankees did manage to knock the California native out of the game in the sixth inning.

Trailing 4-2 with two outs, Yankee center fielder Ravel Santana doubled to left center. Sisco was then pulled after Peter O’Brien scored Santana with a double of his own.

Robbie Aviles relieved for the Scrappers, forcing Jose Rosario into a rally-ending groundout to Garcia at shortstop.

The Scrappers added an insurance run in the seventh, once more ignited by the bottom of the order. An Erik Gonzalez double followed by a Romero sacrifice bunt set the table once again for Garcia.

Garcia’s RBI double to the left field wall gave the Scrappers their fifth and final run of the night. He finished 2-for-2, finishing with two doubles and three RBIs.

Another key contributor on the night, Jones, finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

“He’s been struggling, but we’re just trying to get him more consistent,” Kubiak said. “Anytime he gets a base hit, it’s good.”

Scrappers 5, YANKEES 3

Staten IslandScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Cstodio ss3121Jones lf3022

Cayones rf3011Naquin cf4000

Butler dh3000Sever 2b1000

Snyder 1b3010Valerio dh3010

Santana cf2110Frazar 1b3110

O’Brien c3011Lucas c2100

Rosario 2b3000Gonzalez 3b3110

Lopez lf2000Romero rf3110

Duran 3b2110Garcia ss2123

Totals24373Totals24585

Staten Island001011—3

Scrappers040001—5

E—Snyder (2), Garcia (10). DP —Yankees 2, Scrappers 2. LOB—Yankees 4, Scrappers 6. 2B—Duran (2), Santana (5), O’Brien (3), Garcia 2 (5), Gonzalez (5). SB—Custodio (8).

IPHRERBBSO

Yankess

Rutckyj L, 3-4564443

Smith121110

Scrappers

Sisco W, 1-25 2-373312

Aviles S, 11-300000

Umpires—Home, Jeff Andrews; Bases, Matt Moore. T—2:23. A—3,260.