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Scrappers stumble against red-hot Thunder

NILES — For a second straight night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers pulled out to an early lead against the hottest team in the MLB Draft League. This time, however, the Scrappers couldn’t maintain their lead, and ultimately fell to the Trenton Thunder 13-6 in front of 1,532 fans at 7 17 Credit Union Field. The Scrappers (11-15) scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning. Jimmy Keenan, playing in just his sixth game, belted his second home run of the season. This one was a towering 432-foot shot over the left-centerfield wall. Keenan, a catcher out of ...

Fry, Hedges homers lift Guardians to win over Rangers

CLEVELAND — David Fry and Austin Hedges hit home runs, and the Cleveland Guardians defeated Texas 9-4 on Wednesday to snap the Rangers’ six-game winning streak. Rookie Chase DeLauter added three hits for the Guardians, who host the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox in a pivotal four-game series starting on Thursday. It was the sixth time this season Cleveland has scored at least nine runs in a game, a rare offensive outburst for a team that scored the second-fewest runs in June (87). Elias Diaz homered for the Rangers, who were on their longest road winning streak since ...

Phillies topple Skenes and the Pirates

PHILADELPHIA — Trea Turner hit a three-run home run during a five-run second inning, Bryce Harper’s misjudged double scored two runs in the fourth, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat struggling Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes and the Pirates 10-6 on Wednesday night. Skenes (6-8) lasted four innings, allowing six hits and a season-high seven earned runs. He has not won in his last nine starts, losing six decisions in that stretch. The defending NL Cy Young Award winner’s first loss in this slide came at PNC Park on May 17 at the hands of Wheeler and the Phillies by 6-0. He didn’t ...

Haynes motivated for more as YSU’s lone returner

YOUNGSTOWN — At the end of last season, Jaiden Haynes found himself to be the last man standing. Just like Will Smith standing alone in the Banks family’s empty mansion during the series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the sophomore guard was the only player left from Youngstown ...

Phantoms’ Malachi McKinnon hopeful for a ‘big step’

Going into last season, Youngstown Phantoms forward Malachi McKinnon was billed as one of the hot newcomers to watch. It’s safe to say McKinnon lived up to expectations, scoring 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in his first full USHL season and finishing fifth on the Phantoms in ...

Scrappers’ Mason Schmidt enjoying whirlwind year

NILES — In all likelihood, Mason Schmidt will hold the distinction of being the youngest player on the 2026 Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ complete roster. The Somerset, Wisconsin native, who turned 18 last month, may also very well hold the distinction of being with the Scrappers for a shorter length of time than any other player this summer. Such is the life of a teenager transitioning from high school to an uncertain future. Of course, in Schmidt’s case, the uncertainty comes with benefits. The way Schmidt sees things, the remainder of 2026 is a win-win scenario regardless ...