Romero’s RBI single lifts Scrappers in 13th

Staff report

NORWICH, CT.

Juan Romero hit an RBI single to score Nellie Rodriguez with two outs in the top of the 13th inning, lifting the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to a 4-3 victory over the Connecticut Tigers in a New York-Penn League game on Friday at Sen. Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium.

Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on Josh McAdams’ sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on Robel Garcia’s flyout to center to set up Romero’s hit.

In the bottom of the 13th, Scrappers closer Manuel Carmona gave up a leadoff walk to Dominic Ficociello, who moved to third on a single by Pat Leyland. But Carmona picked up his third save by striking out Brett Harrison to end the threat.

The game lasted four hours and five minutes.

Joel Mejia went 4-for-5 for the Scrappers (19-25), who trailed 3-1 before tying it in the eighth. Romero added three hits and also scored a run, while Robel Garcia had two hits and an RBI.

Caleb Hamrick started and went five innings for Mahoning Valley, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Michael Goodnight gave up one run on three hits in two innings of relief. Alexis Paredes and Trevor Frank then combined on five innings of shutout relief, with Frank (1-3) picking up the win. Frank did not give up a hit or a walk in his two innings. He struck out three.

Jonathan Maciel (1-1) got the loss for Connecticut (19-26).