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A WALK IN THE PARK
Photo
Jamestown Jammers shortstop Anthony Gomez (9) prepares to throw to first base to complete the double play after forcing out Mahoning Valley Scrappers baserunner Joseph Wendle (13) during Wednesday’s New York-Penn League game at Eastwood Field in Niles. The Scrappers won 2-1 in the 11th inning when Wendle was walked in by Jammers relief pitcher Bryan Berglund.
Scrappers down Jammers in 11
By Joe Scalzo
niles
Wednesday night wasn’t one of those nights where you think, “You know what? Let’s throw on some polyester uniforms and play extra innings.”
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers opened their 2012 home season with seven Texans on the roster and a 90-degree forecast they’d all recognize, sweating through more than three hours and 11 innings before they finally got some relief.
Fitting enough, it came from a reliever.
With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th, Scrappers outfielder Juan Romero ducked out of the way of ball four, scoring Joseph Wendle with the game-winner in Mahoning Valley’s 2-1 victory in front of nearly 5,200 fans at Eastwood Field.
Wendle was first mobbed at the plate, then mobbed by autograph-seeking fans who waited (and waited) for postgame fireworks.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Wendle, a sixth-round draft pick out of Division II West Chester (Pa.) University who went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. “I’ve never played in front of this many people.
“It’s always good to win your first home and it was an exciting one. I was glad to be out there.”
Wendle got one of the 11th inning’s big hits, reaching on an infield single that moved Charlie Valerio (who led off the inning with a single) to third. Wendle then took second when the Jammers’ infield was caught napping in the middle of the play.
“I think they thought there was a timeout,” Wendle said. “But the second baseman was still in the hole and the shortstop was going to the mound. I thought I could beat them there [to second] and I was able to.”
Jammers pitcher Bryan Berglund was forced to intentionally walk Erik Gonzalez, then got Evan Frazar on a groundout to second that forced Valerio at home, setting up Romero’s game-winning walk.
It was the lone bright spot of the night for Romero, who went 0-for-4 after hitting three homers in the Scrappers’ first three games.
The Indians’ first-round pick, center fielder Tyler Naquin, went 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in his professional debut for the Scrappers (2-1). He left the game after his fourth at-bat, giving way to Aaron Siliga in the eighth.
“It was a little more relaxed than I thought [it would be],” Naquin said. “It’s a great atmosphere and I couldn’t ask for better fans. They were all supportive.
“I just tried to go up to the plate and be calm and not try to do too much. When I’m myself and not thinking too much, I can help the team in a lot of ways.”
When asked if he felt nervous, Naquin shook his head.
“Not really,” he said. “I’ve come this far in career and I just have to keep on believing in myself to go out there and play my game.”
Luis DeJesus started and pitched five scoreless innings for Mahoning Valley, giving up three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Scott Peoples gave up one run in his two innings and Louis Head followed with three shutout innings.
Enosil Tejeda (1-0) worked around two singles in the 11th to get the win.
SCRAPPERS 2, JAMMERS 1
JamestownScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Flynn rf6000Kelly ss5010
Gomez 2b4000Naquin4030
Ross 1b5020Siliga cf1000
Juengel dh4020Jones lf5000
Solorzano4000Valerio dh5120
Nola 3b5000Wendle 2b4121
Behar c5120Gonzalez 1b4010
Peralta pr0000Frazar 3b5000
Dice c0000Romero rf4001
Hernand ss5010Nilsson3000
Martinez cf5031
Totals421101Totals40292
Jamestown00000010000—1
Scrappers00010000001—1
E—Flynn (1). DP—None. LOB—Jamestown 12, Scrappers 11. 2B—Naquin (1), Valerio (1), Gonzalez (1), Behar (1). SB—Naquin (1), Gonzalez (1), Martinez (1), Juengel (1).
IPHRERBBSO
Jamestown
Hope3441115
Reed220002
Ellington110012
Fermin200001
Berglund L 0-11 1-321121
Scrappers
DeJesusl 530012
Peoples BS 1231111
Head320003
Tejada W 1-0120001
WP—Ellington, DeJesus, Peoples. IBB—Gonzalez (by Berglund). Manzueta. Umpires—Home, Tim Haromada; Bases, Jacob Dallas. T—23:10. A—5,122.