The Mahoning Valley Scrappers opened their 15th season of existence on Monday night at Eastwood Field.  The Jamestown Jammers didn’t give the Scrappers much to celebrate in handing the home team a 5-0 setback in front of a good crowd of 5,531.

Scrapper starter Luis Lugo (below) pitched five innings scattering five hits, one of them a home rub to Dan Collins to start the second inning.  That run would be all that Lugo would yield, yet exited the game trailing 1-0.

The Scrappers had a chance to hit the scoreboard in the third inning with runners at first and third with nobody out.  Jamestown starter Isaac Sanchez was able to wiggle out of the inning without giving up a run.  Sanchez struck out Juan Romero for the first out.  Scrapper leadoff hitter, Tyler Booth then tried to lay down a squeeze bunt that resulted in an inning-ending double play as Martin Cervenka was thrown out at home after starting the inning with a double (top photo).

Jamestown put together a productive seventh inning.  Jin-De Jhang reached when Scrapper left fielder, Josh McAdams, dropped a fly ball.  Jhang advanced to second on a wild pitch by Scrapper reliever James Stokes.  Jhang later scored on a clean single to center by Edwin Espinal to make it 2-0 Jammers.  The Scrappers were fortunate to escape the seventh giving up just the single, unearned run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Juan Herrera doubled to start the frame.  He would advance to third on McAdams infield single.  Ryan Battaglia drew a walk to load the bases.  Robel Garcia popped out to third for the first out.  Battaglia was then picked off of first base by the Jammers catcher Jhang.  Cervenka struck out to end the inning.

Joshua Nervis relieved Stokes for the Scrappers in the eighth inning and Rafael Homblert threw the ninth.

Elvis Escobar had three singles to lead the Jammers 14-hit attack.  In the eighth inning, he reached on his third single.  He would score on a double by Harold Ramirez.  The Jammers went ahead 4-0 when Jhang singled home Ramirez.  Jamestown would tack on another in the ninth to round out the scoring.

The Scrappers (0-1) and Jammers (1-0) will play Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Eastwood Field to complete the season-opening three game set.