Scrappers’ bats go silent again

Staff Report

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have dropped eight of their last nine contests as the offense failed to produce once again Saturday night in a 5-1 loss to the Batavia Muckdogs.

The Scrappers (24-39) have scored more than three runs just once since the Aug. 12 All-Star break.

On Saturday, Nellie Rodriguez registered the first hit for the Scrappers in the bottom of the fourth inning, already trailing by three runs.

Three Muckdog pitchers combined to give up just three hits, while striking out 14 Scrappers.

Kenny Mathews dropped to 0-2 after allowing five runs over 41/3 innings. The one positive for Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak was his bullpen, which pitched 42/3 shutout innings.

Batavia (34-29) led off the third inning with two straight singles when J.T. Riddle beat out a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. After a strikeout, Mathews walked in a run giving the Muckdogs the lead for good.

The Scrappers would score their only run in the bottom of the seventh on a Martin Cervenka infield single.

The Scrappers close out the four game series with the Muckdogs tonight at 5:05.

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MUCKDOGS 5, SCRAPPERS 1

BataviaScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Riddle 3b3111Mejia cf4000

Cordova 2b5110Bautista 2b2000

C. Lopez rf2101Roberts 3b4000

Carcaise 1b3012Rodrigz 1b3110

Ceballos dh4021Garcia ss4010

Wallach c4011Romero rf1000

J. Lopez ss4000McAdams lf3000

Johnson cf4110Cervenka c3011

Pujols lf4110Hendrix dh3000

Totals33585Totals31131

Batavia003020000—5

Scrappers000000100—1

E—none. DP—Scrappers 1. LOB—Batavia 6, Scrappers 5. 2B—Rodriguez (13), Cordova (2), Ceballos (1). SB—none.

IPHRERBBSO

Batavia

Garcia W, 2-1510016

Del Pozo221115

McCarthy200003

Scrappers

Mathews L, 0-24.165526

Doane1.210003

Homblert210002

Guerrero100002

HBP—Riddle (by Guerrero). Umpires: Home, Grant Conrad; Bases, Kyle Wallace. T—2:28. A—4,060.