Scrappers benefit from 6 errors by Renegades

Scrappers benefit from six errors

by defensively challenged HV

By Steve ruman

sports @vindy.com

NILES

Many fans arrived very early and stayed extremely late Saturday for the game between the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Hudson Valley Renegades.

The early arrivals showed up at Eastwood Field looking to get one of the 1,000 Francisco Lindor bobbleheads. Fans arrived as early as 4:30 p.m., even though the gates didn’t open until 6 p.m.

After the game, some fans stayed the night. The Scrappers welcomed area scouts to camp out in the outfield following the contest. Tents began popping up soon after the last pitch.

Fortunately, the Scrappers accommodated the weary fans by making quick work of the Renegades. The home team took advantage of six Hudson Valley errors in a 6-1 win in front of 3,840 fans.

The win lifts the Scrappers’ record to 22-28. They have won seven of their last 10 games.

Hudson Valley is now riding a seven-game losing streak.

The Renegades struck first when Ariel Soriano led off the game with a double, then scored on a Darryl George single

From that point on, it was all Scrappers.

Three first-inning errors by the Renegades led to a three-run first for the Scrappers. Joel Mejia led off the frame by reaching on an error. He stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, then scored on a James Roberts base hit.

Three hitters later, the Scrappers took a 3-1 lead when Paul Hendrix tripled into the right field corner, scoring Roberts and Nellie Rodriguez.

“We’ve been getting our hits and getting runners on base all year long,” Roberts said. “The problem early on was getting the timely hits, getting the RBIs. Lately, we’ve done a much better job of stringing hits together.”

The Scrappers scored a run in the fourth when a Mejia infield single scored Cody Ferrell from second. Ferrell had reached second on an error. The Scrappers added two in the seventh on RBI hits by Roberts and Rodriguez. That inning also included a Renegades error and a passed ball.

The Scrappers earlier this year led the league in errors. They have since played much better defensively.

“I know what (Hudson Valley) must feel like tonight, because we’ve been on the other end of that,” Roberts said. “We did a lot of extra work day in and day out, and it’s paying off.”

Roberts, who was drafted by the Indians in the 15th round of the June draft, was recently named to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. He is batting .314. Earlier this year, he bounced back and forth between third base, shortstop and designated hitter. He has since become a regular at shortstop.

“I did a lot of bouncing from position to position, even this spring in college,” Roberts said. “It’s nice to get settled in one spot. It’s just much easier to concentrate, to come to the ball park every day knowing where you’re at.”

Four Scrappers pitchers limited Hudson Valley to just five hits. Dace Kime started, and worked four innings, giving up a run on three hits. Matt Whitehouse (4-0) picked up the win while lowering his ERA to 0.36. Whitehouse pitched two scoreless innings, giving up one hit.

The two teams conclude their three-game series tonight at 5:05.