Jason Kipnis (pictured) is proving why being drafted in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft was a wise choice for the Cleveland Indians.  Kipnis gave Mahoning Valley some breathing room with a towering two-run homer in the third inning and the pitching staff was up to the task as the Scrappers advanced to the New York/ Penn League Finals with a 3-1 victory over a good Brooklyn Cyclones team.

The Scrappers got on the board in the bottom of the second inning.  Casey Frawley walked on four pitches.  With a one-ball, no-strike count, the Scrappers executed a perfect hit-and-run as Jesus Brito singled and Frawley advanced to third.  Ben Carlson then singled up the middle to plate Frawley and give the Scrappers a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Argenis Martinez singled with one out.  Kipnis then unloaded to deep right center with his first homer at Eastwood Field to put Mahoning Valley up 3-0.

The Cyclones scored a run in the seventh inning on a John Servidio RBI-double to cut the Scrapper lead to 3-1.  After walking the the bases full, Austin Adams was bailed out of a jam when Jordan Henry made a beautiful running catch in centerfield to end the inning.

Vidal Nuno was a workhorse for the Scrappers.  Marty Popham was scheduled to start but was out with the flu.  Nuno stepped up and came through making the absolute most of an important start.  In his five innings pitched, Nuno gave up just a walk and a hit while striking out five Cyclones.  Austin Adams threw the next two innings.  Tyler Sturdevant pitched a scoreless inning.  Guido Fonseca pitched a perfect ninth to record the save. 

Cyclones Manager Pedro Lopez and 2B Jordany Valdespin were ejected in the top of the second inning for arguing with the home plate umpire Jose Rivera.

Kipnis commented on his home run.  “Felt great, was my first one here.  I was actually glad to finally hit one at home.  I’m just happy I could score some runs for this pitching staff.”  Kipnis was also very complimentary of center fielder Jordan Henry and the Scrapper defense.  “The kid [Henry] is a tremendous cenerfielder.  And what’s new?  Henry made another great play tonight.  The infield also did a good job knocking balls down.  With good pitching comes good defense, everyone is on their toes and ready to play behind them.”

Travis Fryman was very pleased with the efforts of Nuno and the defense.   “He’s [Nuno] been lights-out.  He wasn’t supposed to be in the rotation for the postseason.  Marty Popham got sick and we had to change the rotation up, so Vidal, again, has stepped in and pitched extremely well.  Obviously there is more than one way to contribute to a win and we saw that tonight with two plays in my opinion.  Argenis Martinez made an over-the-shoulder catch early which really changed the momentum.  The play Jordan made, that’s way too much drama for me, I don’t like drama in a baseball game.  Jordan is struggling at the plate but is playing lights-out in centerfield.”

It was also a night where the Scrappers raised money for Luke Holko.  Before the game, a collection from the players and coaches raised $1700.  There were firemen in full uniform passing a boot in honor of Chad Holko, (Luke’s father is a fireman) to aid the cause.  There were also several people selling Daffin’s chocolate bars for $1.

The attendance was listed at slightly over 1200, but it felt different tonight.  The people who showed up tonight were baseball fans.  I have been there on Buck Night when 5,000 people go nuts over the throwing of soap and pizza boxes, but barely make a peep when the Scrappers have the bases loaded and nobody out in a tie game.  Hats off to the attendees of this game for clapping and screaming for the Scrappers at the right times.

Tonight also marked the return of a player I figured to be shut down for the year.  Jason Smit was a surprise starter in right field prompting me to bring back something that I enjoyed doing, the Smit-O-Meter, playoff style.

Playoff Smit-O-Meter:  1-3, batting .333

***Lowell defeated Staten Island 3-2 to even their series at one win each.  The Scrappers will play the winner of this series to be decided on Thursday.