Scrappers Walk Renegades Off on Sunday

NILES, O.H. - The Mahoning Valley Scrappers offense reversed recent struggles on Sunday. After ending a streak of 17 straight innings without scoring a run, Mahoning Valley plated eight runs on nine hits on Sunday. Those eight runs were capped by Hosea Nelson's walk-off two run home run to right field, putting the Scrappers (17-11) back into the win column for the first time in five games with an 8-6 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades (18-11).
Hudson Valley scored within the first three batters of the game. After Ford Proctor grounded out to lead off the game, Tanner Dodson tripled to right field. Tyler Frank brought him in two pitches later on a line drive single to left field to give the Renegades a 1-0 lead.
Mahoning Valley responded with three runs in the bottom of third inning, but the Scrappers' 3-1 lead did not last long. The Renegades responded with four runs in the top of the fourth. Three straight singles from Erik Ostberg, Jacson McGowan, and Jake Stone loaded the bases with no outs. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Justin Bridgman and Garrett Giovannelli scored two runs to tie the game at 3-3. Bryce Brown followed with a single, which knocked Scrappers starter Cameron Mingo out of the game in favor of Jordan Scheftz.
Ford Proctor welcomed Scheftz with an RBI single to regain the lead into Hudson Valley's favor, 4-3. Two pitches later, Scrappers third baseman Henry Pujols missed a pickoff throw from catcher Jason Rodriguez, which allowed Brown to score. Hudson Valley led, 5-3, after the big fourth inning.
The Renegades extended its lead to 6-3 off of Scheftz in the fifth inning, but the Scrappers fought to tie the game at 6-6 after six innings. The runs were scored on Jason Rodriguez's sacrifice fly in the fifth, plus a Tyler Freeman RBI groundout and Richie Palacios RBI single in the sixth. Palacios extended his hitting streak to 15 games, a New York-Penn League season-high, with the single.
After scoreless seventh and eighth innings, the Scrappers offense rallied to walk off the Renegades in the ninth. Palacios walked to put the winning run on base with no outs. Mitch Reeves struck out, and Sunday's hero stepped in.
Hosea Nelson blasted a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall to give the Scrappers its fourth walk-off win of the season. It is Nelson's second walk-off hit of the season. The first was a walk-off single on July 7 versus Williamsport.
The Scrappers are now 0.5 games back of Hudson Valley for the best record in the New York-Penn League. Because the Auburn Doubledays won on Sunday, the Scrappers maintain a 2.0 game lead in the Pinckney Division.
The Scrappers and Renegades will play the series rubber match on Monday. Mahoning Valley's Alex Royalty (0-0, 1.50 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Hudson Valley's Easton McGee (3-1, 4.50). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Every Monday Matters at Eastwood Field. Bring a donation of a gently-used clothing item, non-perishable food item, or gently-used books and receive a free general admission ticket, courtesy of Pizza Joe's and 106.1 The Bull.
For tickets, call or visit the Chevy All Stars Box Office at Eastwood Field, at 330-505-0000, or click here.