Scrappers, Pujols edge Black Bears

Staff report

Niles

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers were held to six hits, but manufactured enough offense to beat the West Virginia Black Bears 3-2 on Thursday night at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers (36-28) won their fourth game in a row after dropping eight straight. The Scrappers losing streak began during a two-game series with West Virginia.

The Black Bears got on the board with a two-out RBI single by Mike Gretler in the top of the first inning. He hit a line drive to left field to score Fabricio Macias.

Michael Cooper tied the game at 1 with a two-out RBI single, scoring Ruben Cardenas in the bottom of the sixth.

West Virginia took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Melvin Jimenez in the seventh. But the lead was short lived.

Tyler Freeman tied the game on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the home half and Clark Scolamiero scored on a double by Henry Pujols to take a 3-2 lead.

Scrappers starter Yeffersson Yannuzzi allowed one run on three hits and a walk. He struck out seven in five innings of work. It’s Yannuzzi’s third game this year, and first as a Scrapper, with seven or more strikeouts.

Mahoning Valley reliever Luis Valdez improved to 2-4 after allowing an unearned run on one hit and a walk in two innings. Luis Santos earned his third save after pitching a perfect ninth inning.

The Scrappers and the Black Bears will play the second game of their series today. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.