“If the starter gives up eight runs in two and two thirds inning, and you throw 80 something pitches, you probably aren’t gonna win,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “And that is what happened.”

Timely base running would get the Cutters going in the bottom of the first courtesy of Vantrel Reed. Leading off for the Cutters, Reed would bloop a single to left field, with the speedster taking second when the ball went past Scrapper left fielder Draylin Holmes.

Fancying his chances, Reed would attempt to swipe third two batters later, causing a wild throw from catcher Ian Francis that sailed into the outfield. The wild ball allowed Reed to cross home for the opening run.

With his error contributing to the opening run, Holmes would get his get-back in the second inning, reaching to start the frame on a walk. A Single and double play ball would move the left fielder to third for Matt Rivera, who slapped home a game tying single to left field to make it 1-1.

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters is hit in the shoulder by a pitch as he plays the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

It would take just one at-bat into the third inning for the Scrappers to take their first lead. Leading off the frame, Chase Nixon would blow the visitors ahead on a 371-foot solo shot to right field. The bomb was his second of the season.

The homer would be just the teaser for the dam breaking in Mahoning Valley’s direction. Starter Josh Leerson would be unable to get his control back, subduing a groundout with four straight batters reaching.

Carson Horning started the rally with a single, with bases loaded on a Dreylin Holmes walk and Ian Francis hit by pitch. A wild pitch would score Horning, with Holmes coming home next on a single from Seung-Jun Cha single.

Francis would score two batters later, reaching the plate on a Max Johnson infield single down the right side. The Johnson RBI would be the night for Leerson, who was pulled after just two and two thirds of an inning that saw seven runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

“He had no breaking ball tonight,” admitted Thomas. “Jesse (Estrada) and I were talking about it there towards the end of the game. We didn’t notice it in the first because ’cause he threw fastballs right by them in the first inning… then they started realizing he couldn’t throw the breaking ball.”

Marcus Brodil and Braylon Bishop of the Williamsport Crosscutters put on their hats and head out to the field during the fourth inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Runs six and seven would come against reliever Sam Swygert, who would see three more cross the plate on a Theo Bryant single, Chase Nixon walk, and Hayden Moore single. The seven run third gave the Scrappers an 8-1 lead.

Williamsport would strike a consolation in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases on three straight walks to Jackson Mayo, Marcus Brodil, and TJ Racherbaumer. Two batters later, Mayo would score on a DJ Smiley fielder’s choice.

The bases would load up in the next at-bat, when Joey Parliment forced a full count walk. That would wrap up the night for Trent Harris, with the Scrapper starter going two and two thirds of an inning allowing two runs on two hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Williamsport would narrow the deficit further in the sixth starting with a one out Vantrel Reed single. Mayo would walk after, with a Reed stolen base putting runners at the corners for Marcus Brodil.

Brodil would keep the train going, flying out to left field to bring in Reed.

Braylon Bishop of the Williamsport Crosscutters singles in the second inning against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A TJ Racherbaumer walk later, and Mayo would join Reed at home when Carlos Castillo slapped a single to left. The two run sixth cut the Scrapper lead to four.

But hopes of a dramatic Cutters comeback would be extinguished in the eighth inning. After a strikeout led off the inning, Hayden Moore would reach base on a walk. The center fielder wouldn’t stay on the bases for long, crossing all the way home on a laced Carson Hornung double in the right field gap. Hornung would score in the next at-bat, sliding home on a base hit from Dreylin Holmes to make it 10-4.

Williamsport would be unable to find a response from there, stranding a pair of runners on base in the ninth as Mahoning Valley picked up the win.

The loss moved Williamsport to 18-22-1 on the second half season, planting Williamsport in the bottom half of the MLB Draft League standings. The Cutters will look for redemption in Sunday’s rubber match, with Williamsport hosting the Scrappers at 4:05 p.m.

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters turns the double play and forces out Ian Francis of the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kenny Thomas, manager of the Williamsport Crosscutters watches his team play the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette