Scrappers lose on walk-off blast in 9th

Staff report

TROY, N.Y.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers allowed a walk-off home run in a tie game in the ninth, as the Tri-City ValleyCats avoided a series sweep with a 7-4 victory on Friday night.

The Scrappers had 10 hits, but were just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring positions, and left 10 men on base. D’Vone McClure was 3-for-4 with an RBI-double, while Greg Allen and Leo Castillo each had a pair of hits for the Scrappers (21-27).

Starting pitcher Cameron Hill struggled on the mound lasting just 3 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs. He walked four and struck out three.

Castillo hit a home run in the top of the first inning to get the Scrappers on the board first. Tri-City (32-16) took the lead in the third thanks to a RBI single by Jose Solano and a two-run double by Mott Hyde.

Both teams scored a run in the fourth. The ValleyCats were still leading 4-2 in the seventh when the Scrappers tied the game on a line drive single to center field by Castillo.

Luis Gomez pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Scrappers, striking out five batters.

Anthony Vizcaya was brought into a tie game, but gave up the walk-off blast to Terrell Joyce — his fifth home run of the season.

Vizcaya started the inning by getting Bobby Boyd to fly out to left field. Then he walked Alex Hernandez and Jamie Ritchie singled on a line drive.

Joyce sent a pitch over the left center field wall.