Paints Walk Off Mill Rats For Second Straight Night, Win 6-5

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, grabbed a walk off win for a second straight night over the Johnstown Mill Rats Tuesday, taking a 6-5 victory and running their win streak to seven games.

Johnstown (12-14) got on the board first, scoring on a wild pitch in the second inning and getting an unearned run in the third for a 2-0 advantage.

Chillicothe (17-8) got a lead off single from Jimmy Nugent to start the bottom of the third and a throwing error allowed Cameron Macon to reach and advance to second and third with no outs. Cole Kwiatkowski brought home the Paints' first run while hitting into a double play. Victor Figueroa walked with the bases loaded, scoring Macon and tying the game at 2-2.

Sammy Stoner opened the bottom of the fifth with an infield hit and Kwiatkowski reached on an error by the Johnstown second baseman. With two outs, Figueroa singled, scoring Stoner and Cameron Bowen doubled, scoring Kwiatkowski and giving Chillicothe it's first lead at 4-2.

Tyler Horvat led off the top of the seventh with his first home run of the season, bringing Johnstown to within a run at 4-3. The Mill Rats tied the game and took the lead with two in the eighth after back-to-back lead off walks, an RBI groundout from Morgan Wyatt and an RBI double from Bump Burgreen, putting Johnstown back in front at 5-4.

In the bottom of the eighth, Nate Dorinsky was hit by a pitch to start the inning, advancing to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Kwiatkowski knocked him home on a single, tying the game at 5-5.

Tim Orr led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple, narrowling missing a second-straight night with a walk off home run. With one out, Dorinsky hit a deep fly ball to center field, scoring Orr and handing the Paints a seventh-straight win.

Jackson Bergman (1-0) earned the win in relief for Chillicothe, throwing the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking one. Luke Walter started for the Paints, earning a no decision after allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while walking four and striking out seven over five innings. Landon Vance allowed three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out one over 2 1/3 innings.

Brennan Murphy (1-1) took the loss in relief for Johnstown after allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out three over the final two innings. Dan Merkel turned in a fabulous start for the Mill Rats, allowing no earned runs, four total, on six hits while walking four and striking out five over 6 2/3 innings.

The Paints head to Johnstown, Pa., for games against the Mill Rats Wednesday and Thursday. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and can be heard over the air on 100.9 WXIZ and at ChillicothePaints.com and the free Paints mobile app.