“What did I say last night? We don’t have any rocking-chair games; nothing easy,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kanny Thomas. “Another tough MLB Draft League game. They are all tough.”

After a scoreless first inning, it would take just one pitch for Mahoning Valley to open the scoring against Williamsport starter Brad Rudis (2-2) Looking to get on the front foot, Carson Hornung would put the visitors ahead on one swing, launching a sinker 357 feet that just made it over the left field wall. The solo shot was Hornung’s first home run as a Scrapper.

With the humid, sunny weather in Williamsport, it seemed like balls would travel off the bat a little bit further in the early part of the game. Cutters shortstop Carlos Castillo would prove that hypothesis in the bottom of the second, when he uncorked a two run shot 387 feet over that same left wall. Castillo’s bomb was his first home run in a Cutters career that has spanned 34 games.

Williamsport would turn it into a proper rally in the frame, with TJ Racherbaumer singling after the homer. The Cutters catcher would advance to second on a groundout before Vantrel Reed’s single to left field brought the runner in for a 3-1 lead.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Williamsport Crosscutters manager Kenny Thomas speaks with young fans outside the clubhouse at Bowman Field on Wednesday after defeating the Scrappers.

Keeping with the theme early on, the Scrappers would get a run back in the top of the third inning, starting with a Hayden Moore hit by pitch and Max Johnson single to put two runners on. Moore would score two batters later, when Chase Nixon blooped a single to right field for a 3-2 game.

But Carlos Castillo would make it his game in the bottom of the third. With two out and Safea Villaruz-Mauai and Marcus Bordil in scoring position on walks, the shortstop would send them both home on a two run single to left field.

By the end of the game, Castillo would go three for four with a home run, three runs batted in and two runs scored. It was the first multi-RBI game of the year for the Miami native.

All in all, it would be a rough evening for Mahoning Valley starter Trent Harris (0-2). The right hander would get pulled after four and two thirds of an inning pitched, conceding five runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts thrown.

Williamsport starter Brad Rudis would get pulled after five innings of work, conceding two runs on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts thrown.

The Williamsport Crosscutters celebrate their 7-4 win against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Scrappers would find a loophole against Williamsport reliever David White, quickly getting two on from a Carson Hornung walk and Tommy Rover single. Hornung would come home in the next at bat, scoring off a Seung-Jun Cha single. A popout and walk later, and the bases would be loaded and White was taken out of the game.

Jared Ure would come into the frying pan next, and preserve Williamsport’s lead while allowing a run from a Max Johnson groundout that scored Rover. In total, Mahoning would score twice off of two hits and two walks in the sixth. But Williamsport, as they did every time Mahoning Valley scored, responded in the bottom half beginning with a Marquis Jackson walk. The nine hole hitter would swipe second, then move to third off of a Vantrel Reed groundout. Jackson’s trip around the bases would complete with Jackson Mayo, who slapped a single to right that brought in the runner.

Williamsport would add an additional run in the seventh, leading off with another Castillo single. Castillo would go to third off of a sacrifice bunt from TJ Racherbaumer. The speedster would only need to trot home from there, with the runner scoring off of a wild pitch to make it 7-4.

The Crosscutters’ bullpen would settle matters from there, with the duo of Jed Boyle and Jax Howard (2 S) closing out the final two innings for the Cutters.

Williamsport’s win moves them to 8-6 on the second half season, good for outright possession of second place in the MLB Draft League and one and a half games back from West Virginia in first.

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters gets a two-RBI hit in the third inning against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“You can’t argue, we are fighting,” concluded Thomas. “That’s what we are doing, we are fighting. Our guys are playing hard, and that is a good key.”

The Cutters will look for their second straight series sweep Thursday night when they host the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Bowman Field.

Vantrel Reed of the Williamsport Crosscutters dives safely back to first base on a pick off play with Carson Hornung of the covering the bag at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

TJ Racherbaumer of the Williamsport Crosscutters rounds third base on his way home to score in the third inning against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters rounds the bases on his second inning home run that was measured at 387 feet against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Joey Parliment of the Williamsport Crosscutters gets a sacrifice hit to move team mate Marcus Brodil (background) to second base during the second inning against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Max Mandler of the Williamsport Crosscutters is safe at first base as Carson Hornung of the Scrappers tries to make the play at first base at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Starting pitcher Brad Rudis of the Williamsport Crosscutters gets Max Johnson of the Scrappers to fly out in the first inning at BOwman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette