Scrappers fall to Spikes late
Staff report
University Park, Pa.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers outfielder George Valera was a one-man wrecking crew on Tuesday night.
Valera finished a triple shy of the cycle and drove in six runs, but the State College Spikes pulled out a 13-9 win in the eighth inning.
Carlos Soto tied the game at 9 in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run double for the Spikes (7-4). Stanley Espinal doubled in two in the next at-bat to take the lead.
State College scored six runs in the eighth inning.
Brylie Ware finished 2 for 5 with a double and four RBIs for State College.
Michael Cooper and Johnathan Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles to start the eighth. Bryan Lavastida cleared the bases on a double and an error by Spikes first baseman Dariel Gomez to give the Scrappers (7-4) an 8-7 lead.
Valera hit an RBI double in the first, a two-run in the third and a three-run home run in the fifth.
Valera went 4 for 5 with a run scored.
Juan Paredes (1-1) allowed five runs on five hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
Conner Thomas (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out one in two innings of relief.
The teams will play the second of a three-game series today. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.