JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - This wasn't the first professional start that 2011 Florida Marlins first-round draft pick Jose Fernandez had in mind.
Fernandez allowed five runs on four hits in two and one-third innings of work Friday and the Jamestown Jammers ensured themselves of a losing season after an 8-4 loss to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Diethrick Park.
The loss puts Jamestown three games under .500 at 35-38 with just two games remaining in the season. Those two games are Saturday and Sunday at Diethrick Park against these same Scrappers.
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Top prospect
The Florida Marlins’ 2011 first-round draft pick Jose Fernandez started for the Jamestown Jammers Friday at Diethrick Park. However, it was a rough night for Fernandez who allowed five runs on four hits in two and one-third innings of work, taking the loss in an 8-4 defeat to Mahoning Valley.
Fernandez allowed just one run through his first two innings, but was ultimately responsible for the first four of Mahoning Valley's seven second-inning runs. He took the loss in his only Jamestown appearence of the season and his ERA stands at 19.29.
Despite scoring four runs, the Jammers managed just six hits in Friday's defeat. Austin Barnes had two of them and Ryan Goetz, Joshua Adams, Yefri Perez and Kentrell DeWitt chipped in one each.
Mahoning Valley got a leadoff triple from Bryson Myles and an RBI single from Francisco Lindor in the top of the first, but the hosts responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Barnes doubled and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Adams. Perez would work a bases loaded walk before the inning was over and Jamestown led 2-1.
Fact Box
Mahoning Valley 107 000 000 - 8 9 0
Jamestown 211 000 000 - 4 6 2
2b-Austin Barnes (J) 2, Jordan Smith (M), John Barr (M). 3b-Bryson Myles (M). WP-Nathan Striz. LP-Jose Fernandez.
Things appeared to be going well as the Jammers stretched the lead to 3-1 in the second. Goetz reached on a fielder's choice and was driven home by Barnes' second double of the game.
In the top of the third, the wheels fell off for Fernandez and his Jamestown teammates. Mahoning Valley plated seven runs in the third, needing just four hits to do so. Before the third out was recorded, Mahoning Valley had turned a 3-1 deficit into an 8-3 lead.
The Jammers cut the lead to four in the bottom of the third when Perez stole home, but that would prove to be the last run of the night. Jamestown was held without a hit and limited to just two baserunners over the final six innings and had to settle for the 8-4 loss.