Scrappers earn weird, wild win

By Steve ruman

sports @vindy.com

NILES

It was a wild night at Eastwood Field Saturday when Mahoning Valley hosted Batavia in the finale of a three-game series.

Nearly two hours prior to the game, hundreds of fans lined up outside the gates hoping to snag one of the 1,000 Cody Allen bobbleheads.

In the second inning inning, a hard-hit foul ball which sailed over the third base dugout hit a young fan. The girl was attended to by paramedics for a lengthy period of time, but remained in attendance.

In the fourth inning the game was delayed for 18 minutes when home plate umpire Josh Havens was injured by a wayward pitch. A ball thrown by Scrappers starter Jared Robinson was swung on and missed by Stone Garrett. The pitch got by Scrappers catcher Daniel Salters and hit Havens in the neck area.

Havens was transported to a local hospital, accompanied by his wife, who was in attendance. His condition was unknown at the end of the game. Bases umpire Brandon Mooney moved behind the plate and worked the remainder of the game by himself.

Batavia starting pitcher Jordan Holloway added to the wildness. Holloway’s four wild pitches aided Mahoning Valley in a Scrappers’ 4-0 win in front of 3,060 fans.

With the victory, the Scrappers (22-24) salvaged the third game of a series in which the Muckdogs (19-27) were hoping to sweep.

Batavia entered the game having won 10 of their last 14 games.

“It was a clean game, well-played, but yeah that was kind of a different game,” said Scrappers manager Travis Fryman. “The umpire situation, that was a first. We weren’t sure if they had a backup or what the plan was, but [Mooney] did a good job and really didn’t get challenged.

“From a game perspective, we did a good job in many aspects.”

The Scrappers scored the only two runs they would need in the first inning. With two out, Mark Mathias reached on a walk, then scored on a Daniel Salters double. Salters then advanced to third and scored on a pair of wild pitches.

Wildness also led to the Scrappers’ insurance runs. In the fifth, Willi Castro reached on an infield single, stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Castro scored on a Ka’ai Tom hit.

Nate Winfrey was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth. He came around to to score on a Silento Sayles base hit.

Robinson (1-3) pitched seven scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the year. He scattered five hits while recording seven strikeouts.

“Jared threw probably as well as he can throw right now,” Fryman said. “He made a little change with his delivery from his last outing and he was much more consistent. His secondary stuff and his fastball location was the best he’s had this year.”

Prior to the game Salters and Winfrey were named to the NYPL All-Star Game.

“Daniel continues to get better; he’s swung the ball exceptionally well the past three weeks and he has caught and thrown the ball well all year,” Fryman said. “Nate works hard, gets better and makes routine plays. He too has had a hot bat.”

The Scrappers return to action tonight at State College.