UN-BEAR-ABLE

Scrappers swept in two close seven-inning contests in W.Va.

Staff report

MORGANTOWN, W. VA.

In the opening weekend of the New York-Penn League season, it doesn’t take long to plummet.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers entered Sunday’s doubleheader a half-game behind the unbeaten Auburn Doubledays and Williamsport Crosscutters in the Pinckney Division. But a doubleheader sweep by the West Virginia Black Bears pushed the Scrappers (1-2) down toward the division basement.

The Scrappers lost both seven-inning games. The scores were 5-4 and 3-2.

By far, the most frustrating loss was the opener as the Scrappers led 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Mitchell Tolman led off the rally with a double, then took third on wild pitch by Johan Puello. After David Andriese walked, Maximo Rivera singled to score Tolman and slice the Mahoning Valley lead to one.

Ty Moore followed with a RBI single to tie the game. With the bases loaded, Logan Hill singled to score Rivera with the winning run.

Puello (0-1) took the loss, giving up four hits and four earned runs in two innings in relief of Leonardo Linares.

The ending spoiled a strong start as the Scrappers scored twice in the opening frame. Daniel Salters’ two-out, two-run single gave the Scrappers a 2-0 edge.

They scored two more runs in the fourth inning for a 4-1 lead. D’vone McClure and Will Castro doubled in that frame and Silenta Sayles contributed a RBI single.

Castro and Emmanuel Tapia each had two hits.

In the second game, Scrappers starter Jared Robinson (0-1) surrendered a run in the second inning and two in the third as Mahoning Valley trailed 3-0.

In the sixth inning, the Scrappers sliced the lead to one. After Anthony Santander led off with his second homer in three days, Gerald Bautista walked and advanced on a wild pitch. He scored when Ka-ai Tom reached base on an error with two outs.

In the seventh inning, the Scrappers had two runners on base when a double play ended the game.

Castro and Santander each had two hits. For the Black Bears (2-1), Moore had two hits.

Unbeaten Auburn and Williamsport lead the division. The Scrappers are two games back.