Paints Beat Miners 10-3, Clinch Playoff Spot

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, scored ten runs over three innings to beat the West Virginia Miners 10-3 Tuesday night at VA Memorial Stadium. The win clinches the first-half division title for Chillicothe, locking in a home playoff game at the end of the regular season. 

West Virginia (6-14) got on the board in the third inning, thanks to consecutive RBI singles from Hayden Skipper and Coby Tweeten, giving the Miners a 2-0 lead early. It didn't last long.

In the bottom of the inning, Chillicothe's (17-9) bats came alive, scoring their first two runs on Tim Orr and Owen Wilson singles, respectively. A bases-loaded walk from Hunter Klotz followed, bringing in a run and giving the Paints their first lead of the game at 3-2. Chillicothe would pick up a fourth run in the inning off a fielder's choice to third off the bat of Connor Ashby, extending the lead to 4-2 after three innings. 

The Paints would hold the Miners scoreless in the top of the fourth and turned the momentum into a run in the bottom half of the inning from an Orr sac fly to deep center, making it 5-2.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, shortstop Jeron Williams got the Paints another run after the ball he hit to shortstop couldn't be picked cleanly on a low throw to first, giving the Paints a 6-2 advantage. Brett Carson followed with a two-run single, scoring Cameron Bowen and Williams, pushing the Paints' lead to 8-2. Josh McAlister added on with a two-out, two-run double, scoring Carson and Santrel Farmer and making it 10-2.

West Virginia Miners would score one in the top of the ninth, capping the scoring with the Paints in front 10-3.

Evan Wolf (1-0) made his Paints debut, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while striking out three en route to his first win of the season. Jake Norris earned his first save of the season after throwing the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing a run on one hit, walking four and striking out four. Starter Brandon Bergert exited the game after 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three.

The Paints will be back in action tomorrow night for the first of a two on the road against the Mill Rats in Johnstown, Pa. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Chillicothe win the First Half Championship in the Ohio River Valley Division, securing a home playoff game against the team with the best record in the second half among divisional opponents. That playoff game, the division championship, will be held at VA Memorial Stadium Sunday, August 7 at 6:05 p.m.