Niles, Ohio - Williamsport Crosscutters starter Evan Grimes allowed just one hit in a seven inning start but the bullpen would be unable to preserve the lead as the Cutters fell to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2-1 on Thursday night at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood.
Grimes would strike out nine Scrappers over his seven innings of work while not allowing a hit until his final pitch of the sixth inning. He would allow five other baserunners to reach on a walk, three hit by pitches, and a fielding error.
Luc Lavigueur failed to record an out and allowed the tying run to score when he entered in the eighth inning, suffering his third blown save of the season. Lavigueur would allow a double and a single for the game to be tied, then hit a batter before being lifted.
Joel Tornero was charged the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season, as the game-winning unearned run scored to end the ballgame on an error charged to third baseman Nicholas Romano. Tornero went the final 1 2/3 innings allowing one hit, two walks and a hit batter while striking out three.
Williamsport’s lone run in the loss came on a sacrifice fly by Nick Barone that would score Owen Prince from third in the sixth inning.
Williamsport will now attempt to take the series victory against Mahoning Valley on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:17 p.m. at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood.
Cutters Carvings - The 99 pitches and 7.0 innings pitched by Williamsport starter Evan Grimes are new season highs for a Crosscutters pitcher... Williamsport's defense committed four errors in the loss: Sam DeCarlo with one fielding and one throwing and Nicholas Romano with one fielding and one throwing... Williamsport's offense only recorded one extra base hit in the loss as Jack Kail collected his first triple of the season. All of the Cutters five other hits were singles... Williamsport out-hit Mahoning Valley 6-4 in the loss...
