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Scrappers unable to hold four-run lead
Mahoning Valley has lost four in a row to fall to 7-7
By Steve ruman
NILES
The start of Friday’s game between Batavia and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers was delayed by rain. The final two innings were played in a steady shower.
The weather set the mood for the night, as the Scrappers blew a 6-2 lead and fell to the Muckdogs 9-6 in front of 3,102 fans at Eastwood Field.
The Scrappers’ latest setback extends their losing streak to four games. Prior to Friday, they were swept on the road by State College.
“For us, we just have to stay focused and stick with the same mentality,” said Scrappers designated hitter BIlly Wilson. “We’re hitting the ball right at people, we’re getting some bad hops. That’s baseball.
“As long as we keep an even keel and keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll be in a good place when all is said and done.”
Scrappers starter Ethan Hankins surrendered his first run of the season in the first inning without giving up a base hit. Hankins issued a leadoff walk to J.D. Orr, then faced a no-outs, first-and-third situation when he mishandled a soft grounder off the bat of Dalvy Rosario.
Orr scored on a double play.
The Scrappers (7-7) responded in the bottom of the first inning by scoring a pair of runs and taking a 2-1 lead. Leadoff hitter Korey Holland walked, then scored on a Brayan Rocchio triple. Rocchio scored on a fielding error by Muckdogs second baseman Andrew Turner.
In the second, Hankins gave up another first of the season. Troy Johnson led off the frame with a double, marking the first hit surrendered by Hankins after pitching 9.2 innings of hitless ball.
Johnson advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a Milton Smith infield single.
Hankins would eventually work four innings, giving up the two runs on two hits. He threw 70 pitches (39 for strikes) while recording five strikeouts and issuing five walks,
The Scrappers took a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Henderson De Oleo reached first base on a two-out error, then scored on a triple off the bat of Wilson.
Wilson was selected by the Indians in the 28th round of the 2018 draft out of Loyola Marymount. He began the season in an 0-for-24 slump before collecting a pair of hits on Thursday at State College. On Friday, he went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
“I’ve been feeling really good, I’ve been working with the coaches and worked on some minor adjustments,” Wilson said. “Baseball is a tough sport. You just have to stick with the same approach every day whether you’re in a slump or on a streak.”
The Scrappers extended their lead to 6-2 in the fifth. The inning included a single off the bat of George Valera, a double by Ray Delgado and a triple from Michael Cooper.
However, from that point on, it was all Muckdogs.
The Muckdogs scored a pair of runs in both the sixth and eighth innings to tie the game at 6-6. Scrappers reliever Brian Eichhorn was roughed up for four runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings of relief.
Batavia scored three runs in a ninth inning which included a pair of errors by Scrappers shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
“The good thing about baseball is that there is always tomorrow,” Wilson said. “We’ll come back (today) and hopefully begin a new streak.”
The Scrappers and Muckdogs continue their three-game series tonight at 7:05.