12-Run Fifth Sends Paints to 15-3 Win in Johnstown

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, earned a mercy-rule win for the second-consecutive night, beating the Johnstown Mill Rats 15-3 Friday night at Sargent's Stadium at the Point.

Johnstown (22-29, 10-12) took the early lead, scoring on a two-out RBI triple by Lance MacDonald in the bottom of the second. Jake Kendro hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third, making it 3-0.

Chillicothe (36-16, 14-7) got its first run in the top of the fourth. Victor Figueroa singled to start the inning, scoring on a two-out RBI single by Mason Eckelman and bringing the Paints to within a pair of runs at 3-1.

Then the top of the fifth happened.

Cameron Bowen walked, Cole Kwiatkowski singled and Tim Orr walked, loading the bases. After a pitching change, Figueroa walked, brining home Bowen and making it a one-run game. Owen Wilson singled, scoring Kwiatkowski, tying the game at 3-3. Orr gave Chillicothe the lead, scoring on a wild pitch. CJ Dean then blasted one over the 60-foot-high net in left for a three-run home run, putting the Paints in front 7-3. Eckelman walked and, after a lineout for the first out of the inning, Sammy Stoner singled and stole second, putting runners at second and third. Two batters later, with two outs, Cole Kwiatkowski hit a two-run single and it was 9-3. Orr was hit by a pitch and, after a nine-minute rain delay and a pitching change, Figueroa walked, loading the bases. Wilson hit a deep fly ball that was dropped by the Johnstown left fielder, allowing two more runs to score and extending the lead to 11-3. Dean followed, driving in two more on a single, giving him five RBIs in the inning, and making it 13-3. It's the biggest inning of the season for the Paints in terms of runs (12) and plate appearances (16). The first seven batters of the inning and eight of the first nine all reached and scored. Four different batters scored two runs in the inning.

Chillicothe tacked on two more in the seventh, scoring on a two-run double by Eckelman, who picked up his second and third RBIs on the night.

Due to the shortened game, Luke Walter (4-2) picked up the win after going four innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Mikey Olivieri picked up a three-inning save, his second of the season. He gave up just one hit and struck out two. Olivieri hasn't given up a run in his last 10 innings on the mound.

The Paints are now 10-4 against Johnstown this season, having picked up at least 10 wins over the Mill Rats in each of their first three seasons.

The two teams play again at 7 p.m. Saturday in Johnstown.