Sloppy Scrappers fall to Crosscutters

Staff report

NILES

Four Mahoning Valley errors led to three unearned runs as the Williamsport Crosscutters rallied to beat the Scrappers 6-5 on Tuesday night at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers (13-12) took a 4-3 lead into the eighth inning, but Juan Aparicio tied the game at with a solo home run. It was Aparicio’s first home run of the season.

The Crosscutters (6-18) took a 5-4 lead later in the inning when D.J. Stewart scored on a two-out wild pitch by the Scrappers’ Jerson Ramirez.

Williamsport added a run in the top of the ninth thanks to two Mahoning Valley errors.

Hunter Markwardt reached on an infield single and took second on a throwing error by shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

Markwardt took third on a groundout and scored an insurance run when second baseman Raynel Delgado booted a grounder to make it 6-4.

That extra run came in handy because the Scrappers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on Korey Holland’s RBI single.

But Crosscutters reliever Omar Maldonado came on and got the last three outs on a pop-up and two grounders for his first save.

Williamsport reliever Tom Sutera (1-3) earned thw win, allowing a run on four hits in 31/3 innings. He struck out seven.

Brian Eichhorn (1-1) took the loss for Mahoning Valley. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in 21/3 innings.

Scrappers starter Ethan Hankins struck out six and allowed three runs in 42/3 innings.

Henderson De Oleo, Billy Wilson and Lavastida each had two hits for the Scrappers. De Oleo had two RBIs and Wilson had a double.

Mahoning Valley opens a three-game road trip tonight against the Brooklyn Cyclones.