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Surging Scrappers back at .500 after sweep

MV fights its way back into Pinckney Division race

NILES — On Bark At The Park Day at Eastwood Field, the Batavia Muckdogs barely let out a whimper while the Mahoning Valley Scrappers were all bite.

The Scrappers swept a doubleheader against the Muckdogs Sunday afternoon in front of 2,659 fans at Eastwood Field. The Scrappers survived a pitching duel in the opener, winning the game 1-0. In the nightcap, the Scrappers tore through the Muckdogs like a pit bull in a butcher shop in an 8-0 victory.

The finale was shortened to 5 1/2 innings. As the Scrappers were getting set to bat in the bottom of the sixth a strong thunderstorm moved through Niles. Following a one hour, 43 minute delay, the field was deemed unplayable by the umpires.

Batavia (34-29) entered the day in first place in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League. By the end of the day the Muckdogs found themselves in second place looking up at West Virginia. Meanwhile, MV (31-31) — which was 8 1/2 games out of first place just 11 days ago — is now within 3 1/2 of West Virginia. The Scrappers are three games out in the wildcard chase.

“This is the time of the season when every game matters,” said Scrappers infielder Michael Cooper. “I think as a team you become a lot more focused, you become zeroed in on the wins and losses.”

“This is a developmental league but at the end of the day you go out to win every time you take the field. To be in the thick of a race this late in the season is pretty fun for all of us, especially considering where we were not that long ago.”

MV endured a nine-game losing streak which ended Aug. 8. The Scrappers have since won nine of 11, including four straight — their longest winning streak of the season.

“We weren’t down on ourselves when we lost, we just stayed even-keeled, and that’s where we’re at now,” Cooper said.

The Scrappers scored the only run of the first game in the fourth inning. With one out, Bryan Lavastida walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then crossed the plate on a Will Brennan single.

The lone run was enough thanks to stellar pitching by Scrappers starter Brian Eichhorn and reliever Jerson Ramirez. Eichhorn (4-2) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up four hits while recording eight strikeouts. Ramirez lowered his earned run average to 0.86 while earning his fourth save. He went the final 1 2/3 innings, surrendering just one hit with four strikeouts.

Batavia put its first two men aboard in the seventh. Ramirez then struck out the side to end the game.

There was far less drama in the second game. The Scrappers scored a pair of runs in the first inning, four runs in the second and two more in the third.

In the nightcap, Korey Holland homered, went 3-for-3, knocked in a pair of runs and scored three runs. Brayan Rocchio also homered. He added a double and a single and scored three runs.

Lavastida collected a pair of hits and an RBI. Lavastida is now hitting .355. He owns a 15-game hitting streak — tops in the NYPL.

Batavia was limited to just one hit in the second game. Starter Jose Oca worked three innings, giving up just a two-out single to Harrison Dinicola in the second inning. Serafino Brino worked the final three innings, allowing just a walk.

“We’re finding our groove, everyone seems to be contributing,” said Scrappers catcher Yainer Diaz. “We’re having a lot of fun playing as a team.”

The Scrappers and Doubledays conclude their four-game series tonight at 7:05.

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