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Scrappers get a fortunate rainout
Photo
Mahoning Valley Scrappers shortstop Austin Fisher, left, tries to make the tag as Staten Islands’ Vincente Conde (12) slides safely into second base during a game at Eastwood Field in Niles on Monday.
By Steve Ruman
NILES
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Staten Island Yankees were on pace Monday to play a lengthy game.
Instead, Mother Nature saw to it that the night ended in quick fashion.
The Scrappers and Yankees took one hour to play the first two innings of their scheduled game at Eastwood Field. Most of the contest was played despite a steady rain which began to fall shortly after the first pitch.
With the rains picking up at the end of the second inning, play was halted. Following a 30-minute delay, the umpires called it a night.
Because the two teams are not scheduled to meet again this season, the game will not be made up.
Staten Island was leading 7-3 when the game was called.
The cancellation was good news for Scrappers starting pitcher Cameron Hill. The right-hander, who entered the night with a dazzling 1.98 ERA, will see his worst outing of the season erased from the record books.
Hill gave up seven earned runs on seven hits in two innings. The Yankees sent 10 men to the plate in the second inning, which included a two-run single by Connor Spencer and a home run off the bat of Austin Aune.
Unfortunately for Scrappers catcher Francisco Mejia, his towering two-run first-inning home run, which sailed far over the right field wall, will also be negated.
With their night cut short, the Yankees were able to make an early exit from Eastwood Field. They spent Monday night and the early part of today making a seven-hour trip back to Staten Island, where tonight they begin a six-game homestand.
The Scrappers begin a three-game series tonight at State College. They then return home on Friday to play Williamsport for three straight nights leading up to the New York-Penn League All-Star break.
Monday’s lineup included the return of Bradley Zimmer, the Scrappers’ center fielder who had sat out nearly two weeks because of a head injury. Zimmer was the Indians’ top pick (21st overall) in the June draft.
Meanwhile, Scrappers outfielder Josh McAdams, who has been nursing a hand injury, has returned to Arizona. He will not return this season.
The Scrappers (24-32) remain in last place in the Pinckney Division of the NYPL. Despite their subpar record, they remain just six games behind in the wildcard chase.