Scrappers end losing streak with 9-3 win

July 13, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

lowell, mass.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers used clutch hitting to end their eight-game losing streak with a 9-3 New York-Penn League victory over the Lowell Spinners.

The Scrappers scored six of their runs with two outs and got four innings of shutout relief from three pitchers.

Tied 3-3 through six innings, Bradley Zimmer drove home Greg Allen with the go-ahead run in the seventh on a single. Later in the inning Taylor Murphy drove in two insurance runs with a two-out single.

Murphy also drove in a run in the ninth and Allen doubled in a run with two outs in the eighth and drove home a run with two outs in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk.

Yonathan Mendoza’s two-out, two-run single in the second got Mahoning Valley on the scoreboard.

Edward Estrella, the winning pitcher, Jose Zapata and Luke Eubank combined to allow just two hits over the final four innings.

Mahoning Valley faces Lowell today at Fenway Park in Boston.

Alvarez, Rodney added to All-Star rosters

NEW YORK

Miami Marlins right-hander Henderson Alvarez and Seattle Mariners closer Fernando Rodney are the newest additions to the All-Star rosters. Alvarez will replace injured Washington pitcher Jordan Zimmermann for Tuesday night’s All-Star game at Target Field in Minnesota. Rodney will take the spot of Tampa Bay lefty David Price. Because of an illness, Price was pushed back in the Rays’ rotation to start Sunday, making him ineligible.

Hunter-Reay wins IndyCar race in Iowa

NEWTON, Iowa

Ryan Hunter-Reay blew past the field with two laps to go and won the IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway on Saturday for his first victory since the Indianapolis 500. Hunter-Reay hadn’t led a lap since Indianapolis, and he spent most of Saturday’s race far from contention. But he got new tires on a late pit stop and stormed past Tony Kanaan for his third victory in 2014.

Josef Newgarden finished second, followed by Target Chip Ganassi teammates Kanaan and Scott Dixon. Helio Castroneves finished eighth, taking sole possession of the series points lead.

Keselowski captures Nationwide NH race

LOUDON, N.H.

Brad Keselowski led 153 of the 200 laps in his second Nationwide win of the season on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He also won at Phoenix and hasn’t finished worse than third in six Nationwide races this season. Kyle Busch avoided disaster late in the race when he connected with James Buescher trying to make an outside pass and finished second.

Netherlands beats host Brazil 3-0 to finish 3rd

BRASILIA, Brazil

Robin van Persie and Daley Blind scored early goals to help give the Netherlands a 3-0 win over host Brazil in the third-place match at the World Cup on Saturday. Van Persie converted a penalty kick three minutes into the match after Arjen Robben was brought down by Brazil captain Thiago Silva. Blind added to the lead in the 17th with a shot from near the penalty spot.

Local man competing in major poker event

las vegas

Thomas Sarra Jr. of Girard stood 95th of 172 remaining players Saturday evening in the World Series of Poker No-Limit Hold ’Em Main Event which ends on Monday. Sarra had a chip count of 924,000 as of 9 p.m. Saturday. The chip count of first-place Bruno Politano was 5,095,000.

Phelps edges Lochte in 100 backstroke

ATHENS, Ga.

Michael Phelps won the 100-meter backstroke on Saturday at the Bulldog Grand Slam, edging Ryan Lochte in another encouraging performance in his comeback. It is the first meet for Lochte since he reinjured his surgically repaired left knee in April. He also lost to Phelps on Friday night in the 100 butterfly.

Staff reports/Associated Press