Scoring drought ends, but Scrappers fall in 10

June 29, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

NILES

It didn’t take long for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to break their offensive drought Sunday in their game against Williamsport.

A pair of walks and an error led to an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Scrappers their first run since Tuesday – a span which lasted 28 innings.

Unfortunately beyond that, the Scrappers bats continue to be as dreary as a June day in Northeast Ohio. In the first of a three-game series against the Crosscutters, the Scrappers fell 5-3 in 10 innings.

The Scrappers (5-4) have lost four straight. The Crosscutters 9-0.

Carlos Duran and Grenny Cumana each drove in a run in the top of the 10th to break a 3-3 tie. Williamsport had 15 hits, while four Crosscutters pitchers limited the Scrappers to six hits while recording 12 strikeouts.

Scrappers third baseman Nate Winfrey, who entered the game 0-for-9 on the season, was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a home run, the first of Winfrey’s career.

“I was just trying to do the same thing I’ve been doing with all my at-bats,” Winfrey said of his blast. “I’ve been seeing the ball well, it was just a matter of a solid swing and getting the ball in play.”

Winfrey, a Kansas native who was drafted by the Indians in 2014, was playing in front of his father. Ironically, Winfrey’s dad won the 50/50 raffle hosted by the Scrappers Backers.

“That was pretty funny; it was a nice day for the Winfreys,” Nate said.

While the Scrappers continue to struggle at the plate, manager Travis Fryman isn’t ready to hit the panic button.

“If you get frustrated this early in the season in a developmental league, you’re not going to be here long,” Fryman said. “We hit the ball a little better today, but we also didn’t make some plays in the field that contributed to the loss.”

The Scrappers and Crosscutters continue their three-game series tonight at 7:05.