Meeting for the fourth time in as many days, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Jamestown Jammers continued a pattern of alternating whose turn it was to win.  On Thursday, Jamestown jumped out to a three run lead and held on to earn a split with the Scrappers, posting a 6-2 win in Niles.

Jamestown scored in the top of the first inning when Anthony Gomez, a pest in the Scrappers sides all night, walked and stole second.  Gomez trotted home with the game’s first run when Viosergy Rosa doubled.

Mahoning Valley tied it up in the bottom half of the first when Jose Ramirez started with a single and stole second.  After advancing to third, Ramirez trotted home on a wild pitch.

Scrappers starting pitcher Ryan Merritt lasted four innings and had a shaky outing.  Merritt gave up nine hits and four earned runs before departing with his team trailing 4-1.  Merritt was relieved by Rafael Homblert.  Cody Penny started the seventh and  Luis Encarnacion finished for the Scrappers (2-2).

Brian Dice homered for the Jammers in the sixth to increase the lead to 5-1.

The Scrappers didn’t fare much better with the bats on “Buck Night”. Ramirez singled to start the game and doubled in the eighth, and Mitchell Nilsson, Juan Romero and Hunter Jones singled for the Scrappers only hits in the game.

Jacob Esch, who relieved Jamestown starter Ryan Newell to start the third, earned the win in relief.  Esch pitched five scoreless innings in picking up the win.

The Scrappers take to the road for a three-game series at State College before returning home Monday for six consecutive home games.