Chen's Homer Keeps Scrappers Alive

Chun Chen hit the first pitch of the bottom of the 11th inning over the right-field wall to give the Mahoning Valley Scrappers a 3-2 win over Staten Island in Game 2 of the New York-Penn League championship series. Staten Island had won Game 1 at home, 3-0, Monday night. The Scrappers will host the deciding Game 3 on Wednesday night at Eastwood Field -- seeking their first championship since 2004.

It was the Scrappers' first win over the Yankees in four games this season. Mahoning Valley won the Pinckney Division with a 49-27 record, then swept Brooklyn in two games in the first round.

Chen's homer was only his second of the season and gave Cory Burns the win. The Scrappers' closer struck out four over 3 1-3 innings.

Chen, Jason Smit, Ben Carlson, Argenis Martinez each had two of the Scrappers' 11 hits.

Staten Island loaded the bases on an error by Scrappers starter Marty Popham, a single and walk, but the right-hander got out of it by getting a double play.

He wasn't as fortunate in the fifth when he gave up three straight two-out hits that put the Yankees ahead, 2-0.

The Scrappers came right back in the bottom half to tie it.

Smit hit a leadoff double and went to third on a wild pitch. Casey Frawley followed with an RBI double.

After a pitching change, Chen bunted Frawley to third and Jordan Henry hit a fly ball to left that was to shallow for Frawley to try and tag up and score.

Martinez singled in Frawley, then Jason Kipnis singled and Greg Folgia was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Jesus Brito popped out to the catcher to keep the score tied.

The Scrappers nearly went ahead in the eighth and again in the ninth.

In the eighth, Carlson singled with two outs and Smit was hit by a pitch, but Frawley lined out to shortstop, to end that threat.

With one out in the ninth, Henry lined a single that glanced off pitcher Ryan Flannery, who had just entered the game to start the inning. Martinez walked, but Kipnis struck out and Folgia grounded into a force out.

Staten Island went 8-2 down the stretch to win the McNamara Division with a 47-29 record, then got past Lowell in three games. The Yankees are making their fifth straight playoff appearance. The Yankees won the title in 2005 and 2006.

Mahoning Valley is back in the playoffs for the first time since winning the championship in 2004.