Sunday, July 26, 2015
Staff report
NILES
Shao-Ching Chiang gave the Mahoning Valley Scrappers something rare this season — a quality start.
Make that an extreme quality start.
It wasn’t enough as the Scrappers (14-20) lost to the Brooklyn Cyclones, 2-1, on Saturday night before 4,015 fans at Eastwood Field.
In five innings, Chiang (2-1) allowed one hit and two runs. He struck out two batters and walked one.
He also hit a batter, William Fulmer, to lead off the fourth inning.
After Vincent Siena reached base on an error, Brandon Brosher walked to load the bases.
Fulmer scored on a sacrifice fly by Hengelbert Rojas to right field, allowing Siena to advance to third base.
Siena scored on Zach Mathieu’s sacrifice fly to center field.
The Scrappers sliced the Cyclones lead in half in the eighth inning after Ka’ai Tom reached on an error and took second base on a wild pitch.
Tom scored on Nathan Winfrey’s sacrifice fly.
Willi Castro had two of the Scrappers’ six hits. The Scappers went 1-for-12 batting with runners in scoring position.
Matt Esparza and Billy Strode each pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
Gaby Almonte (4-2) earned the pitching victory for the Cyclones (19-15). Almonte scattered five hits over six innings.
He struck out five batters and walked three.