Niles, O.H. — Despite a quality start from Felix Paulino, the Cutters were unable to complete the sweep of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers as they fall 2-1 on the road. Paulino did not factor in the decision.
The Cutters were able to take an early lead against the Scrappers starter, Tanner Tully, in the top of the 1st inning, using a Scrappers error to do so. Gregori Rivero stole 2nd base, and Mahoning Valley catcher Jack Goihl’s throw sailed into centerfield. On the errant throw, David Martinelli scored from 3rd base to give the Cutters a 1-0 lead.
The error by Goihl was the Scrappers sixth error in the first innings of games during this series, committing five of those errors in the first inning of last night’s game. Those six errors have lead to four Cutters runs in the opening frame.
Mahoning Valley was able to knot the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning against Cutters starter Felix Paulino. Gabriel Mejia stole home as a part of a double steal to tie the game at 1-1 in the 3rd. The stolen base was the 10th of the year for the Scrappers centerfielder.
The Scrappers took their first lead of the night and of the series, doing so against Scott Harris, in the bottom of the 8th inning on an Evan Rogers throwing error with two outs that allowed Gabriel Mejia to score from 3rd base.
Felix Paulino built off of his start against Auburn as the right-hander was outstanding in the no decision. Paulino tied a season-high with six innings pitched. Over those six frames, Paulino allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk, striking out six Scrappers.
Scott Harris replaced Paulino to start the top of the 7th innning. Harris allowed an unearned run over two innings of relief. Harris, surrendered a pair of hits and struck out three while taking the loss.
Tanner Tully was replaced in the top of the 4th inning by Ping-Hsueh Chen. Tully finished the night, throwing three innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits while striking out four Cutters batters. He exited with the game tied.
Ping-Hsueh Chen was tough on Cutters hitter over two shutout innings of relief. Chen allowed one base hit, but struck out five Cutters, including getting all three Cutters that he faced to strikeout looking in the 5th.
Ryan Colegate tossed three hit-less shutout innings in relief of Chen, striking out a pair of Cutters before getting replaced by Michael Letkewicz in the top of the 9th inning. Colegate left as the pitcher of record for the Scrappers.
Michael Letkewicz earned his first save of the season, working around a pair of Cutters base runners in the top of the 9th inning by getting Evan Rogers to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 doubleplay.
Williamsport returns home to start a three-game series against the Staten Island Yankees. Bailey Falter toes the rubber for Williamsport. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. At BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Cutter Carvings – The Cutters struckout 49 times in the series against the Scrappers, going 2-1 on the series…Luke Maglich was the only Cutter to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double…The top three hitters in the Cutters line up went 2-for-11 with six strikeouts…
