Yankees shut out Scrappers for sweep

Vargas’ best outing of year ends in loss

Staff report

New York

Scrappers starting pitcher Carlos Vargas was nearly flawless on Sunday. But one run in the bottom of the first inning led to a 1-0 loss to the Staten Island Yankees.

Vargas (3-4) had his best outing of the season. In seven innings, the right-hander allowed one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out five.

The Yankees (26-22) got on the board after Ezequiel Duran hit a lead-off triple in the first. Josh Smith brought him home on a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat.

While Vargas had a solid outing, Yankees starter Blakely Brown was better.

Brown (2-2) pitched six innings of one-hit ball. He allowed four walks and struck out six. His only hit allowed was a single by Joab Gonzalez in the fifth.

The fifth was the Scrappers’ (22-7) best chance to score. Jonathan Lopez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Korey Holland walked. But Brown picked off Lopez at second base before Gonzalez’s single. Will Brennan grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The loss completed a three-game sweep for the Yankees. The Scrappers have lost the last seven games, and hadn’t been swept since losing three straight at State College June 25-27.