Williamsport, PA — For the second consecutive night, the Williamsport Crosscutters were able to walk-off the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in extra-innings. This time, it was Jesus Alastre providing the game-winning hit in the 10th inning.
Both clubs, for the second straight night saw their starting pitchers work shutout performances and not factor into the final decision.
For Williamsport, Ranger Suarez went five shut out innings allowing four hits while striking out a season-high five Scrappers batters before being relived at the top of the 6th inning with a pitch count nearing 90 pitches.
Mahoning Valley’s starter, Triston McKenzie worked 4.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five Cutters batters. McKenzie was replaced in the bottom of the 5thinning by Michael Letkewicz with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Letkewicz got Jose Antequera to line out to second to end the inning.
Mahoning Valley plated their first run of the night, which was their first run of the series in the top of the 8th inning, taking advantage of a pair of Crosscutters errors.
Gabriel Mejia reached 1st on an error by Cutters shortstop Aquimedes Gamboa on a ball up the middle. Mejia advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch by Cutters reliever Randy Alcantara, giving the Scrappers a runner in scoring position.
Mejia attempted to steal 3rd, but was initially caught by an inside move by Alcantara who threw on to 3rd basemen Luke Williams. Williams started the rundown, but over threw 2nd basemen Jose Antequera, for the Cutters second error, allowing Mejia to reach 3rd base.
Alexis Pantoja drove home Mejia with a RBI single into center to give the Scrappers their 1-0 lead, ending a 31-inning scoreless streak for the Indian’s affiliate.
The Crosscutters showed their resiliency in the bottom of the 9th, getting their lead off batter aboard via a single by Jesus Alastre. Luke Williams followed suit by delivering a single up the middle giving the Cutters the tying run at 2nd and the winning run at 1st with no outs and the meat of the line up coming to the plate.
Scrappers reliever Henry Martinez, who allowed the two base hits, struck out Darick Hall for the first out, but walked Luis Encarnacion to load the bases for Arquimedes Gamboa. The shortstop drove a ball into right-center that was caught, but was deep enough for Alastre to tag and score the tying run, making it 1-1.
Martinez got Enmanuel Garcia to ground out to end the threat and force extra innings for the second straight night.
Alex Kline entered in the top of the 10th to relieve Jose Nin. Kline tossed a clean inning of relief, striking out the side, getting all three Scrappers hitters to strike out swinging.
Henry Martinez retired the first two Crosscutters in the bottom of the 10th inning, but a two-out throwing error by Scrappers 3rd basemen allowed Jose Antequera to advance all the way to 3rdinning. Jesus Alastre plated Antequera by sneaking a 1-0 offering just off a diving Luke Wakamatsu’s glove just to the left of 2nd base giving the Cutters the 2-1 walk-off win.
The win is the first of Alex Kline’s professional career and gives the Cutters their 3rd straight home win to start the season.
Williamsport remains at home as they look for the series sweep against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at BB&T Ballpark. Seranthony Dominguez makes his second start of 2016 for the Williamsport Crosscutters as he will be opposed by Juan Hillman, who will be making his second start for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Cutter Carvings – It’s American Cancer Society Survivor Night and Post-Game Fireworks at BB&T Ballpark…The Crosscutters have played three extra inning games through their first seven games…Tonight’s game was delayed 40 minutes due to rain…
