W.Va. needs 2 extra innings to spoil Scrappers’ Opening Day

June 18, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

NILES

Some days, you just have to tip your cap to the opposition.

Such was the feeling of Mahoning Valley Scrappers manager Edwin Rodriguez, who on Friday saw his team drop a 5-4 decision in 11 innings to the West Virginia Black Bears.

The Opening Day game was played in front of 5,189 fans at Eastwood Field.

Sandy Santos doubled home the winning run with two outs in the top of the 11th to give the Black Bears the come-from-behind win.

The Scrappers were retired in order in the bottom half of the frame.

“It was a very well-played game by both teams, there wasn’t much to be disappointed about, other than the score,” Rodriguez said. “We got beat by their best player.

“We hit the ball good tonight, we played solid defense and we ran the bases well.”

The Scrappers scored the first run of the game in the third. Alex Pantoja reached on a one-out error, stole second, then scored on a Luke Wakamatsu base hit.

The Scrappers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Jodd Carter hit his second double of the game, then scored on a Gian Paul Gonzalez single.

“I was seeing the ball well tonight,” Carter said. “I was looking for a fastball early in the counts, and I got some good pitches to hit.”

Carter was a regular in the Scrappers’ outfield in 2015.

“Being here last year was a huge learning experience, and I think it will really help me this summer,” Carter said. “I’m more relaxed, I’m more experienced.

“I know what to expect, and the game isn’t as fast. I hope for good things.”

Scrappers starter Micah Miniard worked out of several early-inning jams and appeared to settle in before the wheels fell off in the fifth.

The Black Bears put runners in scoring position with less than two outs in each of the first three innings, but failed to score.

In the third, Miniard issued a lead-off walk to Eric Forgione, who quickly advanced to third on a pair of stolen bases.

However, Miniard recorded a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to get out of trouble.

The 6-foot-7 righty then pitched a perfect fourth and recorded two quick outs in the fifth.

“Micah looked really good, he had good stuff,” Rodriguez said. “The first three innings he had to really work, and maybe that took something out of him.”

After recording the two quick outs in the fifth, six West Virginia batters reached base, and in the process the Black Bears scored four runs.

Forgione started the two-out rally with a triple, and scored on a Santos double.

Will Craig tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single, then Albert Boar gave the Black Bears a 4-2 lead and chased Miniard from the game with a double that plated a pair of runs.

“I think [Micah] maybe just got a little anxious, and he let a few pitches get away,” Rodriguez said. “But we were very pleased with the way he pitched for his first outing.”

Scrappers first baseman Emmanuel Tapia belted a two-out solo home run over the centerfield wall in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Scrappers’ deficit to 4-3. The Scrappers then tied the game in the seventh when Wakamatsu scored from second base on a wild pitch and a throwing error.

Scrappers relievers Liandro Linares and Ping Hseuh Chen combined to work five hitless innings, recording six strikeouts in the process. Devon Stewart worked the 11th and suffered the loss.

The two teams will conclude their brief two-game series tonight at 7:05.