[Empty Body]
Burlington, VT- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers dropped the opening game of a New York-Penn League semifinal, 8-3 to the Vermont Lake Monsters on Saturday night. The Lake Monsters blasted two homeruns in a five run seventh inning to down the Scrappers.
After falling behind 1-0, the Scrappers would take an early lead in the top of the second inning. With one the Scrappers would record three straight singles to load the bases. Ernie Clement then reached on an infield single to tie the game. A throwing error on the play allowed the go ahead run to score as well to put the Scrappers up 2-1.
Simeon Lucas added a run on the board with a solo homerun in the top of the third inning. It was the first postseason homerun hit by the Scrappers since Chun Chen hit a walk off homerun in game two of the championship series in 2009.
Mahoning Valley held the lead until the bottom of the seventh inning. The inning started with a fielding error, then back to back one out walks to load the bases. Logan Farrar followed for Vermont and hit the first pitch he saw into the Lake Monsters' bullpen for a grand slam and a 5-3 lead. Greg Deichmann followed with a solo homer and Vermont led 6-3 after the seventh inning.
Vermont would put the game away in the bottom of the eighth inning. Aaron Arruda was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Javier Godard followed with a two run homer to left to push the score out to the final of 8-3.
Sam Hentges started and took a no decision in 4.0 innings of work. He allowed one earned run on five hits. He walked two and struck out four. Felix Tati (0-1) took the loss in 1.1 innings of relief. Tati allowed three runs, two earned, without allowing a hit. He walked two and struck out one.
The Scrappers and Lake Monsters now return to Eastwood Field for a must win game for Mahoning Valley. Gregori Vasquez will get the start. First pitch is set for 7:05. Playoff tickets are now available on the Scrappers website as well as through the box office. Call the Scrappers box office at 330-505-0000 to get your tickets or get them online at www.mvscrappers.com.
