By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

MINFORD — Oh, those one-run games.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers have been involved in numerous close games this season including 7 one-run games, the latest one Friday night.

Ironton took a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning only to have the Minford Falcons rally for a 7-6 win.

Ironton is now 4-3 on the season in one-run games and 0-2 in 2-run games.

Ironton (11-7) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Ian Ginger drew a leadoff walk and Connor Kleinman doubled him to third Jon Wylie doubled home both runners.

Chaydan Kerns reached on a fielder’s choice with Wylie going to third. Tanner Kleinman grounded out as Wylie scored.

Minford (11-3) answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning.

Carson Cronin walked, Mason Book singled and Grant Wheeler walked to load the bases. Rhyan Queen walked to force in a run and after a pop out J.D. Matiz grounded out as a run scored.

The Falcons took the lead with 2 runs in the second inning.

With one out, Max Lauder walked, Cronin was hit by a pitch and Book bunted for a hit. A throwing error on the play allowed a run to score. Wheeler then hit a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run.

But Ironton’s offense came to life again in the sixth inning and scored another 3 runs.

Wylie walked, Brady Moatz put down a sacrifice bunt, Kerns walked and Braydon Baker had a 2-out, 2-run double for a 5-4 lead. Jayson Maddy followed with a line drive base to score Baker.

Minford managed to get a run back in the bottom of the inning when Cronin reached on a one-out error, Book singled and Wheeler hit his second sacrifice fly.

But in the bottom of the seventh Minford rallied to score twice for the win.

Matiz and Ty Borland singled and Kyle Laxton put down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third.

Kerns came on and appeared to strike out Lauder only to have a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 for a walk to load the bases.

Cronin hit a fly ball over the drawn-in outfield and it fell for a hit to score Matiz and Lauder and end the game.

Ironton had 7 hits with Wylie going 3-3 with a double, Baker 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI, Tanner Kleinman 1-3 with an RBI, Connor Kleinman 1-4 with a double and Maddy 1-1 with an RBI.

Ironton 300 003 0 = 6 7 4

Minford 220 001 2 = 7 6 0

Ian Ginger, Tommy Sheridan (5), Chaydan Kerns (7) and Brady Moatz. Max Lauder and J.D. Matiz. W-Matiz (IP-7.0, H-7, R-6, ER-6, K-3, BB-3). L-Sheridan (IP-2.1, H-3, R-3, ER-2, K-2, BB-0). Ginger (IP-4.0, H-2, R-4, ER-3, K-2, BB-6, HBP-2). Kerns (IP-0.0, H-1, R-0, K-0, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Connor Kleinman 1-4 2B, Jon Wylie 3-3 2B, Tanner Kleinman 1-3 RBI, Braydon Baker 1-3 2B 2-RBI, Jayson Maddy 1-1 RBI; Minford: Carson Cronin 1-3, 2-RBI, Mason Book 3-3, Grant Wheeler 2-RBI, Rhyan Queen RBI, J.D. Matiz 1-4 RBI, Ty Borland 1-1.