Mill Rats Blast Miners 12-2

(Photo by Phil Andraychak)

Courtesy of the Johnstown Mill Rats:

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Johnstown Mill Rats picked up their fifth consecutive victory after defeating the West Virginia Miners 12-2 in seven innings during a Prospect League matchup on Thursday night.

West Virginia held an early 2-0 lead going to the bottom of the second before Johnstown answered with 12 unanswered runs over the ensuing five and a half innings.

The Mill Rats tallied a run in the second inning when Jake Casey crossed home plate on an error before scoring seven times in the third to go in front 8-2. A Matt Santarelli two-run single and RBI knocks from Pete Capobianco and Lukas Torres highlighted the frame.

Johnstown held the six-run advantage until the bottom of the seventh. Damian Yenzi plated a run with a sacrifice fly, then Casey hammered a three-run walk-off home run to center field that put the mercy rule into effect.

Brennan Murphy earned the win on the mound for the Mill Rats after tossing a complete game, allowing two runs (zero earned) on four hits while striking out nine. He did not walk a batter.

Casey went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and added three RBIs offensively. Torres and Yenzi each recorded three hits.

Johnstown (18-21, 6-2) opens up a two-game series against Champion City beginning at 7 p.m. Friday night.