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Winfrey’s HR lifts Scrappers
Mahoning Valley is just 41/2 games out of wildcard
By Steve ruman
NILES
A dark cloud hung over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers throughout their first six meetings this season with Williamsport.
The Scrappers were 1-5 against the Crosscutters, with just six runs scored. In their five losses, they gave up just three earned runs while being plagued by errors.
On Friday, black clouds lingered over Eastwood Field throughout the day, even causing a 14-minute delay in the Scrappers’ game with the Crosscutters.
Through it all, the Scrappers shined bright, resulting in a 4-2 win over the Crosscutters in front of 2,713 fans.
The Scrappers (25-27) held Williamsport hitless until Chandler Hall doubled off of Michael Letkewicz on the first pitch of the eighth inning. The Crosscutters scored a run in the first when Jesus Alastre was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. He eventually scored on a groundout.
Hall scored in the eighth on a groundout. Williamsport finished the night with three hits.
Aaron Civale started for Mahoning Valley and worked three innings, striking out a pair of batters. Ben Krauth was superb in relief, working four hitless innings while issuing a walk and recording six strikeouts.
Letkewicz gave up the three hits but picked up the save.
The Scrappers owned the worst record in the New York-Penn League in early July. Today they are just 41/2 games out in the wildcard race. They are 20-10 since July 10.
“Chemistry, it’s all about chemistry in baseball and right now we have it,” said Scrappers all-star outfielder Todd Isaacs. “We’re a different team than we were a month ago.
“Earlier this season, we would come in the clubhouse and do our own thing. We were still getting to know each other. Right now we’re all in, we’re all together in all we do. We’re very much a team. We trust in each other. We go out on the field and the pitchers trust the defense. It’s a great feeling.”
Isaacs was the hitting hero earlier this week when he hit a walk-off home run in a come-from-behind win over Batavia. On Friday, it was first baseman Nate Winfrey, who belted a two-run home run over the right field wall in the second inning.
Gabriel Mejia scored the Scrappers first run in the bottom of the first on a passed ball. The Scrappers’ fourth run of the night came in the fourth when a Silento Sayles infield single plated Erlin Cerda.
Winfrey entered the game batting just .141 with one home run.
“I’ve sort of struggled this year, I’ve been sent up and down but I’ve just tried to keep doing what I’ve always done,” Winfrey said. “I’ve had some bad luck this year, but I have tried to stay grounded.
“I think my defense has improved lately, and that helps with the confidence.”
Like Isaacs, Winfrey said the mood of the team has changed drastically since the early struggles.
“It’s been one of the better clubhouses I’ve been in. It was a little depressing early on because of the losses, but we’ve clicked,” Winfrey said.
The Scrappers and Crosscutters continue their three-game series tonight at 7:05.