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MLBDL West Virginia Black Bears

Clutch Two-Run Homer Lifts the Bears over the Scrappers in 3-2 Win

July 14, 2022 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - The West Virginia Black Bears took game one of the series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 3-2, in a classic game at Monongalia County Ballpark on Thursday evening. With the win and the Williamsport Crosscutters' loss to the State College Spikes, West Virginia is once again the undisputed first-place team. One game ahead of the Crosscutters with just two games left in the first half of the season, West Virginia can clinch a spot in the MLB Draft League Championship game on Tuesday, September 6, with a win or a Williamsport loss.

The Scrappers took an early lead in the first inning. In the first four at-bats, Mahoning Valley loaded the bases with two singles from SS Alex Ulloa and 3B BrIan Kalmer, respectively, and the walk of DH Reed Chumley. With two outs on the board, West Virginia starter Max Alba (1.71 ERA) put a pitch in the turf that got past C Hunter May and scored Ulloa from third. In the next at-bat, 1B Alex Arauz singled on a ground ball in the infield that scored Kalmer for a 2-0 Scrappers lead.

In the bottom of the first inning, West Virginia also wasted no time loading the bases. A hard-hit ball into left field by DH Blaze Brothers got West Virginia started, in addition to the subsequent walks of 1B Ryan Hernandez and May. With the bases juiced, Scrappers starter Ricky Mineo threw a non-competitive pitch that got past C Adrian Salas and scored Brothers from third. The Bears ended the inning on a pop-fly from CF Caeden Trenkle after cutting into the Scrappers lead 2-1.

Each side remained quiet offensively in the second and third innings. With offense coming in bunches, both West Virginia and Mahoning Valley's starting pitchers recorded four strikeouts each into the fourth inning. Alba retired three straight Scrappers in the second as he struck out the side. The former MLB Draft League "Pitcher of the Week" finished his start with two runs on four hits and four strikeouts.

After four innings, manager Jedd Gyroko handed the ball over to Rhian Mann (3.46 ERA). On just two day's rest after his first Black Bears start, Mann came in unrattled by the one run lead and rang up two Scrappers to sustain the score. Mann finished his two-inning appearance with zero hits and two strikeouts as he picked up his fourth win of the season for the Bears.

West Virginia finally took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a go-ahead home run into the visiting bullpen from Hernandez (6) that scored Brothers. With the home run, Hernandez leads the MLB Draft League in home runs this season, in addition to on-base and slugging percentage.

Pitcher Ryan Velazquez (2.70 ERA) relieved Mann in the top of the seventh. Velasquez did not allow a run in his two innings on the mound and struck out four Scrappers.

The Bears, still clinging to the one run lead going into the ninth, handed the save opportunity to former WVU standout Trey Braithwaite. Continuing his trend of high velocity and low-pitch count, Braithwaite collected two strikeouts and the save while recording several pitches over 95 MPH. The save marks Braithwaite's sixth of the season as he leads the MLB Draft League in the category.

The Black Bears remain in first place in the MLB Draft League with a one-game lead over the Williamsport Crosscutters. West Virginia looks to take the series from Mahoning Valley and clinch a spot in the MLB Draft League Championship game with a win on Friday night at Monongalia County Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

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