Two things happened for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Sunday in a 2-1 win over the Jamestown Jammers.  First off, situational hitting has been an issue at times this year, but Robel Garcia hit a full-count pitch to plate Erik Gonzalez with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Scrappers to a victory.

The second good thing that happened was that the bullpen kept a tie game knotted as Rafael Homblert picked up his first win in relief of Luis DeJesus.

DeJesus has been dominant and has pitched well in every start.  Homblert, on the other hand, seems to be turning a corner from where he had been before this week started.  He picked up a save earlier in the week and nabbed a win in this game.  Prior to the good results on Sunday, Homblert’s ERA was higher than three gallons of gas on the turnpike.

Robbie Aviles and Michael Peoples combined to throw two innings of scoreless relief before Homblert pitched the final two innings.

Tyler Naquin started the fourth inning with a hustle double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Joe Sever (top photo) poked a single to right to knock Naquin in and tie the game at 1-1.

The game would stay deadlocked until the bottom of the ninth.  Depending on how you look at it, the hitters were struggling, or the pitching was outstanding.  This result was a combination of both as the Scrappers stranded eight men on base.

The Scrappers are headed East to Williamsport for a pair before returning home to host Staten Island Yankees on Wednesday.