NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Mahoning Valley Wins Two of Three against West Virginia

August 28, 2016 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Black Bears' starter LHP Cam Vieaux was dominant in his outing on the mound, but Scrappers' LF Silento Sayles hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth to push Mahoning Valley past West Virginia, 4-3 on Friday night from Eastwood Field. Scrappers' reliever Ryan Perez recorded the win out of the bullpen hurling 1.1 scoreless innings.

West Virginia received a stellar performance from Vieaux who received a no-decision, striking out nine batters through six innings while allowing just one earned run on six hits. After both teams were held scoreless for the first four innings, the Black Bears took a 1-0 lead in the fifth as LF Hunter Owen singled and eventually scored on an RBI double from C Chris Harvey.

Mahoning Valley responded in the bottom of the frame on CF Gabriel Mejia's RBI single, tying the score, 1-1. In the seventh, Owen and Harvey crossed the plate on a Scrappers' error, putting West Virginia ahead, 3-1. Reliever RHP Scooter Hightower entered for the Black Bears in the seventh and eventually took the loss, allowing three earned runs over two innings. The Scrappers would even the score in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from LF Todd Isaacs and an RBI single off the bat of DH Nathan Winfrey.

During the next inning, Mahoning Valley jumped in front of West Virginia on Sayles' RBI sacrifice fly to centerfield. But, in the ninth, the Black Bears would not go away quietly. Harvey began the frame lining a single to right field before advancing to second base on DH Tyler Leffler's sacrifice bunt. After a walk to SS Erik Forgione, Scrappers' reliever RHP Michael Letkewicz induced a pop out and a fielder's choice to secure his third save of the season. Harvey led West Virginia's offense going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI as each team had 10 hits in the contest. For Mahoning Valley, Mejia guided the attack also going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Game 2

NILES, OH - Black Bears' 3B Will Craig blasted his second home run of the year to help lead West Virginia past Mahoning Valley, 6-4 on Saturday night from Eastwood Field. Craig, the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft, paced West Virginia's offense going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Scrappers jumped ahead of the Black Bears in the first inning on an RBI single from DH Nathan Winfrey to give Mahoning Valley an early 1-0 lead. This would be the only damage done to West Virginia starter RHP James Marvel who would, then, toss five consecutive scoreless innings. Marvel improved to 4-6, throwing six innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts. In the top of the fourth, the Black Bears would tie the game, 1-1, on Craig's solo home run over the left field wall. Two innings later, West Virginia pushed across another run to take a 2-1 advantage on 1B Albert Baur's RBI single.

West Virginia would pull away from Mahoning Valley in the seventh inning. SS Erik Forgione lined an RBI single to right field to score C Arden Pabst before 2B Nick King scored on an error. Then, a wild pitch allowed Forgione to cross the plate, putting West Virginia ahead, 5-1. In the next inning, the Scrappers would cut West Virginia's lead to 5-2 on Winfrey's RBI sacrifice fly. An insurance run would be added in the ninth by the Black Bears' offense as CF Sandy Santos lined an RBI single to left field, giving West Virginia a 6-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the frame, Mahoning Valley would rally to push across two runs and bring the tying run to the plate. Scrappers' 3B Gavin Collins crossed the plate on a wild pitch before SS Alexis Pantoja hit an RBI single, making the score 6-4. But, reliever RHP Luis Paula induced a fly out with two outs to end the threat and the ballgame. Pantoja paced the Mahoning Valley offense going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored as reliever LHP Randy Valladares fell to 2-3, allowing four runs (two earned) through one inning. The Scrappers outhit the Black Bears 12-9.

Game 3

NILES, OH - Black Bears' DH Ty Moore went 2-for-4, but West Virginia fell to Mahoning Valley, 5-1 in the series rubber match on Sunday night from Eastwood Field. West Virginia starter RHP Danny Beddes dropped to 5-3, allowing four earned runs through 5.2 innings on seven hits.

After both teams were held scoreless for the first two innings, West Virginia grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third as 2B Nick King reached on a Scrappers' error and eventually crossed the plate on CF Sandy Santos' two out, RBI single. Beddes tossed the first five frames, scoreless.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Mahoning Valley offense would jump ahead of the Black Bears. An RBI single from DH Nathan Winfrey along with RBI walks to RF Mitch Longo and C Logan Ice put Mahoning Valley in front, 3-1. Then, a two RBI single off the bat of SS Alexis Pantoja gave the Scrappers a 5-1 advantage. Mahoning Valley CF Gabriel Mejia and Winfrey had two hits each as reliever RHP Luis Jimenez earned his first win of the season, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing two hits with five strikeouts. Reliever RHP Matt Anderson tossed scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth for West Virginia.

The Black Bears will return home to open a three-game series with the Batavia Muckdogs tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. from Monongalia County Ballpark on Octoberfest in August Night.

-WVBB- All the best, Jackie Riggleman Assistant General Manager West Virginia Black Bears NY-Penn League Class A Affiliate Pittsburgh Pirates 304-293-7184 Jriggleman@westvirginiablackbears.com [cid:B6ED6DD7-3F6E-4627-91D8-CF85E34D2396]

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