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Scrappers split doubleheader with State College
Scrappers win big in opener, blow late lead in nightcap
By Steve Ruman
NILES
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Sunday pounded out nine hits, including five doubles. They saw three batters in their lineup (Gabriel Mejia, Ka’ai Tom, Mark Mathias) register a multiple-hit game, and they scored 10 runs — a season-high at Eastwood Field.
And with all of that accomplished, the Scrappers then headed into the second inning of their home game against the State College Spikes, finished that contest, then played the nightcap of a doubleheader.
When all was said and done, the Scrappers (30-37) and Spikes (35-33) split the twinbill.
The Scrappers won the first game 12-5. The Spikes came back in the second game to register a 4-3 win.
It was State College that delivered the first offensive blow of the day. The Spikes scored three runs in their first at-bat thanks to an RBI double by Casey Grayson, followed by an Orlando Olivera two-run home run.
However, the Scrappers responded by sending 14 men to the plate in a 10-run bottom of the first. Three batters had multiple hits in the inning, three players scored a pair of runs and six different Scrappers collected at least one RBI.
The Scrappers finished the game with 16 hits, including seven doubles. Ka’ai Tom, who doubled twice in the first inning alone, went 3-for-4 with three two-baggers, three runs scored and two RBIs. Mark Mathias and Daniel Salters also knocked in two runs apiece, while Alexis Pantoja hit two doubles that plated three runs.
State College starting pitcher Jacob Evans entered the game with a 1.05 ERA. The lefty had given up just five earned runs in 43 innings. On Sunday, Evans failed to make it out of the first inning. He faced 12 batters, gave up 10 earned runs and saw his ERA balloon to 3.09.
“It seemed like we went up there as a team very comfortable and seeing the ball really well in the first inning,” Tom said. “I got lucky because my first double hopped over the fence and put me on second base. I don’t ever recall having two hits in the same inning before, let alone a pair of doubles.”
Tom leads the Scrappers in bating average (.293), hits (67), runs (33), and RBI (27).
“I’ve come a long way, because I remember stepping into the batter’s box our very first game of the year in West Virginia, I didn’t feel comfortable at all,” Tom said. “Now, I feel like I’ve found my groove and I’m confident in what I’m doing at the plate and in the field.”
The Scrappers surrendered a pair of runs in the seventh inning to drop the finale. They had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Austin Fisher. However, the Spikes answered with a two-run seventh to salvage the split.
“Win or lose, we’re battling pretty good right now,” Tom said. “We’re a very close group. There’s a lot of support in our clubhouse.”
ROSTER MOVES
A pair of Scrappers pitchers — Cortland Cox and Casey Shane — were promoted to Lake County during the team’s most recent road trip.
Cox started 10 games for the Scrappers this summer. He was 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA. In 22 innings, he recorded 27 strikeouts. In his first appearance with the Captains, Cox pitched three scoreless innings, giving up just one hit with four strikeouts.
Shane was 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in his 12 starts with the Scrappers. He pitched 60 innings, the second-most among all Scrappers pitchers. His 41 strikeouts were a team high.
Also promoted to Lake County was outfielder Silento Sayles. The speedster hit .242 with a home run and 18 runs driven in for the Scrappers in 38 games.
The Scrappers added pitchers Christian Meister, Sam Hentges, Micah Miniard. All three were promoted from the Arizona League.