Staten Island stifles Scrappers

Staff report

New York

Pat DeMarco extended the Mahoning Valley Scrappers losing streak with one swing of the bat. DeMarco hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning in the Staten Island Yankees’ 3-2 win on Friday.

The Scrappers lost their fifth consecutive game.

Yainer Diaz’s RBI double opened the scoring for the Scrappers (22-25) in the first. But Diaz allowed a pass ball in the home half to tie the game.

Scrappers starter Ethan Hankins walked DeMarco with the bases loaded to give the Yankees (24-22) the lead in the sixth.

Will Brennan, who was called up from the Arizona League on Thursday, stole third in the sixth and scored on an error by Yankees catcher Carlos Narvaez.

It was Hankins’ shortest outing of the season. In three innings, he allowed two runs — one earned — on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts.

Luis Sanchez (0-1) allowed one run on one hit in one-third of an inning of relief.

Derek Craft (1-0) surrendered one unearned run on a walk, striking out three in three innings of relief.

Daniel Ramos walkedJohnathan Rodriguez, who advanced to second on a wild pitch, to start the ninth. But he recoded his fourth save of the season.

The two teams will play the second game of the series today at 7 p.m.