Niles, O.H. — Ranger Suarez followed up his no-hitter with a quality start as the Cutters took advantage of the Scrappers defensive lapses to take the middle game of the series by a final 3-2. For Suarez, it was his 5th win of the season.
Mahoning Valley did their best to give the Cutters an early lead, committing five errors in the opening frame aiding Williamsport to a 3-0 lead. Scrappers 1st basemen Emmanuel Tapia was charged with three of the errors. Williamsport did not record a hit in the inning, but saw Mark Laird, Arquimedes Gamboa and David Martinelli score.
The five errors are a Mahoning Valley record for errors committed in a single inning.
The Scrappers were able to get a run back in the bottom of the 1st inning, as Erlin Cerda plated Gabriel Mejia with a RBI ground out to shortstop Arquimedes Gamboa. It cut the Cutters lead to 3-1 at the time.
Scrappers starting pitcher Aaron Civale was replaced in the top of the 4th inning by Ben Krauth. Civale allowed three unearned runs over three innings of work while striking out two Cutters batters and not allowing a walk.
Ranger Suarez surrendered another run in the bottom of the 6th inning, as Gavin Collins singled through the left side to score Erlin Cerda, cutting Williamsport’s lead to 3-2. Suarez was able to get out of the inning with the lead intact.
Ben Krauth was replaced in the top of the 7th inning by Randy Valladares. Krauth held the Cutters in check, going three shutout innings, striking out five Crosscutters and allowing just two hits, which came in his first inning of work.
Ranger Suarez was replaced in the bottom of the 7th inning by Julian Garcia. Suarez worked six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits while allowing two walks and striking out six Scrappers batters. Suarez left as the pitcher of record.
Alex Kline replaced Garcia in the bottom of the 8th inning. Garcia picked up a pair of huge strikeouts to work out of a jam in the 7th inning.
Kline faced three batters in the 8th inning, retiring all three while picking up a pair of strike outs before being replaced in the bottom of the 9th by Jake Kelzer.
Kelzer slammed the door in the bottom of the 9th inning, retiring all three batters that he faced to earn his 3rd save of the season, in as many chances.
Randy Valladares was strong in relief for Mahoning Valley, tossing three shutout innings, allowing just one base hit while striking out six Crosscutters batters.
The Cutters struck out 13 times against the Scrappers, including 11 times against the bullpen. Williamsport has struck out 46 times since the start of the State College series (five games), going 3-2 in those games.
The Cutters conclude their three-game series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Felix Paulino goes for his first win of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Eastwood Field.
Cutter Carvings – Arquimedes Gamboa was replaced by Chandler Hall in the bottom of the 3rd after leaving with an apparent leg injury sustained while trying to steal 2nd…Juan Luis was replaced by Luke Maglich in the bottom of the 4th inning after not running out a pop-up…The 5th win ties Ranger Suarez for the New York-Penn League lead…
