Poor early pitching dooms Scrappers

Staff report

State college, PA.

Mahoning Valley’s poor pitching from the start led to a 9-3 loss at State College Saturday night to snap its four-game winning streak.

Scrappers starter Luis Jimenez went just two innings and allowed three runs on three hits and four walks. Dace Kime (0-2) relieved and surrendered four runs on four walks and three hits in just two innings as well.

Mahoning Valley falls to 10-19 and State College improves to 19-10.

The Spikes — led Ryan McCarvel’s two hits, home run and three RBIs — scored all of their runs in the first five innings. They took a 2-0 lead after one inning, and after the Scrappers answered with a three-run second, State College answered back with a run in each the second and third innings before a three-run fourth.

Tommy Edman doubled and had two hits and two RBIs for the Spikes.

Mahoning Valley’s offense was led by Todd Isaacs two hits, while Gabriel Mejia, Jonathan Laureano and Alexis Pantoja each had an RBI.

Steven Farinaro (4-0) earned the win for State College, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings.

Ping-Hsueh Chen and Nathan Winfrey each notched a scoreless relief inning for Mahoning Valley.

The Scrappers continue their six-game road trip at Auburn today at 5:05 p.m. Its the start of a three-game series.

Aaron Civale (0-0) will get the start. He hasn’t allowed a run in 10 relief innings.