Scrappers, Muckdogs split doubleheader in Batavia

Staff report

Batavia, N.y.

Three Mahoning Valley pitchers combined on a two-hitter as the Scrappers beat the Batavia Muckdogs, 3-0, to salvage a split of a doubleheader Thursday night.

Jose Zapata, Dominic DeMasi and Billy Strode combined to blank Batavia in front of a modest crowd of 634 at Dwyer Stadium. The Muckdogs beat the Scrappers, 4-1, in the first of two seven-inning games.

The twinbill was scheduled after the original series opener was rained out Wednesday night in Batavia.

Zapata started the nightcap for Mahoning Valley (5-8). He worked the first three innings and allowed one hit, striking out three. DeMasi (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief and got the win. He walked two and struck out two.

Strode pitched a perfect seventh for his first save.

The Scrappers’ Austin Fisher broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the top of the fifth. Fisher later scored on a single by Li-Jen Chu.

Silento Sayles added a run-scoring single in the seventh for Mahoning Valley.

Sayles and Emmanuel Tapia each had two hits for the Scrappers.

Batavia (2-11) took the opener after Cody Poteet and Nestor Bautista combined to limit the Scrappers to a single, unearned run.

Poteet started and pitched three innings, allowing a hit and the unearned run. He struck out one. Bautista (1-1) worked the final four innings, scattering three hits and striking out three for the victory.

Leandro Linares (0-2) started and took the loss for Mahoning Valley. He allowed eight hits and three runs — all earned — in 32/3 innings. Linares walked three and struck out three.

Ryan Perez worked 11/3 innings and allowed two hits and a run with a strikeout. Johan Puello allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning.

Anfernee Seymour, Giovanny Alfonzo and Cameron Newell each drove in a run for the Muckdogs. Seymour singled and doubled and Stone Garrett went 3 for 3, including a triple, for Batavia.

Fisher went and Nathan Winfrey each singled twice for the Scrappers.

The teams are scheduled to conclude their series at 7:05 tonight at Dwyer Stadium.

The Scrappers return to Eastwood Field in Niles for three games against the Aberdeen Ironbirds beginning at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Sunday’s game is a 4:05 p.m. start and Monday’s series finale is set for 7:05 p.m.