Paints Rally To Beat Mill Rats 8-7 in Johnstown

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, battled back from a late defecit, scoring three in the top of the ninth to beat the Mill Rats 8-7 Thursday night at Johnstown's Sargent's Stadium at the Point.

After the Johnstown 16-21 (3-5) took the early lead with three runs in the bottom of the second, Eric Colaco tied the game in the top of the third with a three-run home run to left center. 

The Paints 25-13 (6-3) would take their first lead in the top of the sixth on a home run from Jhors Gomez, making it 4-3.

The Mill Rats tied it in the bottom of the sixth and took their second lead in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs on a pinch-hit, two-run single by Wesley Parker making it 6-4.

Chillicothe got one back in the top of the eighth on Ken Hemmer's RBI single, cutting the Mill Rats' lead to 6-5.

In the top of the ninth, Cameron Bowen and Reid Douglas both singled and Trevor Coltenback knocked home the first run of the inning with a single, tying the game at 6-6. Ben Schechterman followed with a single up the middle, scoring Douglas and Coltenback and making it 8-6.

Johnstown got its last run on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth by Carter Rust, but Tim Orr got a flyout and two strikeouts, ending the game and earning his first save of the year.

Carter White started for the Paints, sitting down the Mill Rats in order in three of the four innings he pitched. He finished the game striking out eight of the last nine batters he faced. After Bryson Brown threw 2 1/3 innings, Landen Vance (4-0) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief and surrendering just a pair of hits. 

The win was just the second this season after the Paints trailed following seven innings. 

The Paints and Mill Rats play again at 7 p.m. in Johnstown Friday to wrap the three-game series. The Paints return to VA Memorial Stadium Friday and Saturday nights.