Scrappers win slugfest vs. Muckdogs in home opener

By Steve ruman

sports@vindy.com

NILES

Less than 90 minutes prior to the scheduled start of Sunday’s game between the Batavia Muckdogs and Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a postponement seemed inevitable.

Wailing tornado sirens, a flooded Eastwood Field parking lot and rain falling on an already-saturated playing field created the perfect storm for a rainout.

Instead, the wild weather subsided and gave way to a wild 9-7 Scrappers victory.

The home opener for the Scrappers was witnessed by a Father’s Day crowd of 3,823 fans.

“That’s a good first game for the guys to play in front of the home fans, a good game for the city,” Scrappers manager Dennis Malave said. “Regarding the weather, we just went with the mindset that we were going to play, all day long we prepared as though we would play. You always want to be ready.

“In the end, everything worked out the way you want it to.”

Batavia wasted no time turning the contest into an offensive slugfest. Muckdogs leadoff hitter J.D. Orr opened the game with a single, then came around to score on an Evan Edwards base hit.

The Scrappers took a 3-1 lead in the third inning when catcher Bryan Lavastida laced a bases-loaded double to the wall in right-center, clearing the bases.

The Scrappers eventually took a 5-2 lead in the sixth when George Valera belted a two-run line drive home run over the right field wall. The blast would prove to be the first of four Scrappers home runs on the night.

Batavia sent nine men to the plate in a seventh inning which was wild in more ways than one. The Muckdogs scored five runs in the frame to take a 7-5 advantage. The offensive outburst included a trio of singles, a double and a two-RBI triple off the bat of Peyton Burdick.

Batavia also benefited from four wild pitches and a hit batter.

MV wasted no time regaining the lead.

After the first two batters were quickly retired in the bottom of the seventh, a Korey Holland single was followed by back-to-back home runs from Brayan Rocchio and Ray Delgado.

Delgado’s blast, a scorching line drive over the right field wall, gave the Scrappers an 8-7 advantage.

“Things started out pretty rough but our pitchers kept us in the game and we kept swinging the bats,” Delgado said. “I just tried to stay within myself and get a good pitch to hit. I got what I was looking for and I was able to drive the ball.

“I didn’t think it was going to clear the wall. I was thinking double or triple out of the batter’s box.”

Delgado was born in Cuba, and was drafted out of Calvary Christian High School (FL) last June. He is just 19 years old.

“This has been quite a ride,” Delgado said. “High school last year, then Arizona and now Niles, Ohio. The fans were great tonight. We thought the game was going to get shut down, and it turned out to be a great night.”

Scrappers left fielder Jon Engelmann led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to conclude the scoring.

Jerson Ramirez pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.

Scrappers pitchers recorded 11 strikeouts.

“I’m happy to be back,” said Malave, who played for the Scrappers from 1999-2001. “This is a great opportunity. I’m grateful for everything the Scrappers, the Indians and this city has done for me.”

The Scrappers and Muckdogs conclude their two-game series tonight at 7:05.