Thursday, June 21, 2018
Photo
Jose Fermin
Staff report
STATE COLLEGE, PA.
The State College Spikes’ three-runn first inning proved to be more than enough to hand the Mahoning Valley Scrappers a 4-1 loss Wednesday night in New York-Penn League play.
It was the first defeat of the season for the Scrappers, who had won their first five games. That stretch tied a team record for the best start to a season.
With runners at first and third with no outs in the bottom the first, Scrappers starter Juan Mota balked in a run. Wood Myers then doubled to drive home Justin Toerner for a 2-0 Spikes lead. An RBI single from Andres Luna made it 3-0.
The Scrappers’ lone run came in the seventh inning. Angel Lopez was hit by a pitch and Jose Fermin doubled him home. State College’s Brady Whalen singled home Toerner in the bottom of the seventh.
Mota (0-1) went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
Randy Valladares followed with 1 2/3 innings of relief. Valladares had one earned run on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Luis Santos went the final 1 2/3 innings. He did not allow a baserunner and struck out two.
The Scrappers are tied with the Vermont Lake Monsters for the best record in the New York-Penn League.
They open a six-game homestand at 7:05 tonight against Auburn in the first of three against the Doubledays at Eastwood Field.
Sunday will mark the start of a three-game series with the Williamsport Crosscutters.