The Mahoning Valley Scrappers wrapped up a seven game homestand.  Brooklyn got the best of the host team riding the strong pitching performance of Rainy Lara.  Lara gave up one run in the first inning and his Cyclones buckled down to tame the Scrappers, 5-1.

The Scrappers got on the scoreboard in their half of the first inning.  Tyler Naquin slapped a double to left.  One out later, Charlie Valerio singled to plate a hustling Naquin.  The Indians first round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Naquin, finished the game with three of the Scrappers four hits.

The momentum shifted in the third.  Scrapper starter Luis Morel (below) caught a bad break when Eudy Pina broke for second and Scrapper shortstop Jairo Kelly went to cover second base on the steal attempt.  The vacancy Kelly left turned a routine double play ball into runners at first and second with nobody out.

Brandon Nimmo singled home Pina.  Nimmo had been killing the Scrappers the whole series.  With that hit, Nimmo was 8-14 in the series.  Jayce Boyd had an RBI single later in the inning to plate Nimmo that gave the Cyclones a 2-1 lead.

Morel did not get out of the fifth inning.  Brooklyn added a couple of unearned runs in the inning to make it a 4-1 game.   Robbie Aviles relieved Morel and gave up a run in the fifth.

The Scrappers struggled offensively after the first inning.  In fact, they did not get another hit until the sixth inning.  Rainy Lara settled in for Brooklyn and pitched into the seventh inning with a four run lead.  Lara struck out ten Scrappers in picking up the win.

The Scrappers head to the road for awhile in pursuit of league-leading Auburn before welcoming Williamsport to Eastwood Field on August 7th and 8th.

Catch Tim Pozsgai on AM-1570 for all of the action on the road.  If you haven’t had a chance to yet, treat yourself to a very unique and entertaining broadcast style.