Santander’s big bat ignites Scrappers

Staff report

BATAVIA, N.Y.

Anthony Santander‘s hot bat powered the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to Monday’s 15-11 victory over the Batavia Muckdogs.

Santander’s four hits included homer and two doubles as the Scrappers (2-2) overcame an early 6-1 deficit.

D’vone McClure, Will Castro, Ka’ai Tom and Mark Mathias each had two of the Scrappers’ 17 hits.

Brock Hartson, the Scrappers’ third pitcher of the game, earned the win and a blown save. Kieran Lovegrove surrendered six runs in the first four innings. Jose Zapata pitched a scoreless fifth inning before Hartson took the mound.

McClur’e double in the second inning scored Austin Fisher. An inning later, Li-Jen Chu hit a two-run double, scoring Mathias and Santander.

Santander’s two-run homer in the fifth inning was part of the Scrappers’ five-run outburst for an 8-6 lead. McClure contributed a two-run single in that frame.

In the sixth inning, the Muckdogs scored twice to tie the game. It didn’t last long as the Scrappers pounced for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning for a 15-8 advantage. The Muckdogs committed three errors in that inning.

Ambidextrous pitcher Ryan Perez came on with two outs in the seventh inning. An inning later, he allowed three runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked none.

Stone Garrett hit a two-out, three-run homer off Perez.

In the ninth inning, Bill Strode allowed three hits but no runs.

The Scrappers will close their season-opening road trip with games against the Muckdogs tonight and Wednesday. Their home opener at Eastwood Field will be Thursday against the State College Spikes.