Paints Win Third Straight, Beat Mill Rats 5-3

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, used stellar pitching and double-digit hits to beat the Johnstown Mill Rats 5-3 Saturday night at VA Memorial Stadium.

Johnstown got on the board in the top of the third with a one-out, bases-clearing triple by Jake Casey, giving the Mill Rats an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Paints tied the game. After three walks in a row to start the inning, Hunter Klotz hit a single to right, scoring Kade Wroot and Tim Orr. Jake Reifsnyder followed with an RBI single of his own, giving the Paints a 3-2 lead, one they would not relinquish.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Paints would add to their lead on a single by Orr, scoring Owen Wilson and making the score 4-2 after five innings.

After 5 1/3 innings of work, Chillicothe starter Sebastian Escobar exited the game - he struck out nine, walked two, and gave up two runs. Anthony Steele came out of the bullpen in relief and sent the Mill Rats back scoreless.

The Paints added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth with a Nate Dorinsky single that scored Reifsnyder, extending the lead to 5-2.

In the top of the eighth, DJ Alexander led off the inning with a double, later scoring on a single by Randy Carlo IV and bringing the Mill Rats to within two at 5-3.

Evan Wolf struck out two batters in the ninth, giving the Chillicothe staff 15 on the night, earning his fourth save of the season and sending the Paints to their third win in a row.

The Paints are back in action Sunday afternoon in Johnstown, where they will play games two and three of their series with the Mill Rats. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.