6/20/2025
By George Lucas
The Johnstown Mill Rats fought back from 3-1 down and took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 9th, only to allow the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp to tie the game and walk it off on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning to lose 5-4 Friday night in Peru.
The Mill Rats trailed 3-1 entering the 9th. Pinch hitter Brady Gavula doubled, and Ben Robinson and Colton Ayres both scored to tie the game at 3. Jace Essig (2 for 5; 1 RBI), doubled in Gavula to give the Rats the 4-3 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the 9th, D’Andre Gaines reached on an error, driving in Ryan Seddon, who singled one batter earlier and reached third on the miscue, to tie the game at 4. On the play, Draven Nushida advanced to third and would come home on a wild pitch for the 5-4 walkoff win.
Joe Tootle (1-2), pitching in relief in the 9th, picks up the loss. Starter Isaias Espiritusanto earned a “no decision”, tossing 4 innings and allowing 3 runs on 4 hits.
The Pistol Shrimp’s Jackson Ugo (1-0) got the win in relief. Starter Jack Savitch gave up a single run over four innings on three Mill Rats hits.
The Rats fall to 13-7 and into a tie for first place in the Northeast division with the Chillicothe Paints.
The Pistol Shrimp improve to 9-10 and into third place in the Northwest Division.
The Rats and Pistol Shrimp will wrap-up the two-game set Saturday at 4:05pm.