Muckdogs pound Scrappers in ninth inning
By Steve Ruman
NILES
In a game otherwise filled with missed chances, the Batavia Muckdogs finally took advantage of every opportunity presented to them in Thursday’s ninth inning.
The result was a 7-2 Muckdogs win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in front of 3,032 fans at Eastwood Field.
Trailing 2-1 after eight innings, the Muckdogs scored six times in the ninth to secure the win. The inning started with a throwing error by Scrappers shortstop Willi Castro. A single and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Brad Haynal, who singled to right field, scoring a run and tying the game at 2-2.
A balk gave Batavia a 3-2 advantage, and caused Scrappers manager Travis Fryman to get ejected from the game for arguing the call. Then with two outs, Angel Reyes broke the game wide open when he blasted a grand slam over the left field wall.
The Scrappers loaded the bases in the ninth but failed to score. The game ended when Silento Sayles was called out on strikes.
On the night, the Scrappers stranded 16 baserunners. The Muckdogs left 10 men on base.
Sayles accounted for the Scrappers’ two runs when he plated a pair of runs in the sixth inning with a one-out single.
The wild ending overshadowed another strong pitching performance by Scrappers starter Jared Robinson. The righty worked himself into numerous jams, but managed to throw five scoreless innings. He gave up just two hits and recorded a strikeout while walking five batters.
Robinson (1-3, 2.76 ERA) extended his scoreless innings streak to 182/3 innings.
“I thought Jared started the game with a pretty good delivery, but around the second inning he seemed to lose his focus a little and the plate started jumping around,” said Scrappers pitching coach Greg Hibbard. “He regained himself and did what he had to do, but that still wasn’t one of his best nights.
“Jared battled and competed well, and that’s always a great sign.”
In the second inning, Robinson loaded the bases with three consecutive walks on 13 pitches. However, a pop-up and a double play got him out of the jam.
“I went out there and just told him to clear his mind and channel his focus into a positive versus a negative, and I though he did a good job of doing that,” Hibbard said.
Yoiber Marquina (2-1, 0.46 ERA) suffered the loss, although none of the Muckdogs’ six runs in the ninth were earned.
“There was a play at the plate that we thought didn’t go our way; the home run, he left the ball up in the zone,” Hibbard said. “Beyond that, I thought he battled well and handled himself pretty good.”
MOVIN ON UP
A mainstay in the Scrappers lineup for the past two years is moving on.
Infielder Austin Fisher has been promoted to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks.
Fisher was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of 2014 MLB Draft out of Kansas State. The 22-year-old is the only member of the Scrappers this season to play all four infield positions except for pitcher and catcher.
In 36 games with the Scrappers , Fisher hit .218 with 11 RBIs. In 2014, Fisher hit .196 in 46 games, and was used almost exclusively as a shortstop.
Added to the Scrappers roster was Erick Algarin, a right-handed pitcher who comes to the Mahoning Valley from the Arizona League.