Johnstown Outlasts Chillicothe In Pitchers' Duel

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, couldn't find a way to break through Friday night, losing 3-0 to the Johnstown Mill Rats at VA Memorial Stadium.

Chillicothe (1-1) starter Colin Bryant turned in a strong performance on the mound in his first outing of the summer, throwing six shutout innings while surrendering three hits, walking one and striking out four. 

With the game still scoreless in the top of the seventh, Johnstown (3-1) opened with a leadoff triple, promting the Paints to bring in Landen Vance out of the bullpen. Vance got the first batter he faced to tap back to the mound for the first out and, after putting a runner on first, induced an inning-ending double play to keep the score 0-0 heading to the stretch.

Mill Rats starter Zach Sharshel tossed four hitless, scoreless innings, striking out five Paints hitters before giving way to Matthew Benton, who allowed a pair of hits, but get the Paints off the scoreboard. Conor Thiele entered in the seventh, throwing a scoreless frame. Then Liam Royster took over in the eighth, walking one, but again stifling the Chillicothe hitters. 

Johnstown finally broke through in the ninth. After a strikeout to start the inning, new Paints pitcher Joshua Rouw (0-1) walked Joey Perry and gave up an infield single to Max Humphrey. Jack Newman doubled down the right field line, scoring two. Newman scored two batters later on a two-out single by Logan Myers, making it 3-0.

Mac Yarbrough capped the shutout for the Johnstown's pitching staff, earning his first save of the season by striking out three consecutive hitters after walking the leadoff batter.

The Paints are home again Saturday night, hosting the Champion City Kings on Veterans Appreciation Night by VA Medical Center, Ross County Veterans Council, Jobs Ohio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development and Ohio American Legion. Postgame Fireworks are presented by Veterans in Transition. Veterans Appreciation Night this season is a part of the Centennial celebration for the Chillicothe VA Medical Center, which is home to VA Memorial Stadium.