Doubledays Can't Overcome Early 7-Run Inning From Scrappers

A shutdown inning is imperative to keep any opponent's morale down after a big offensive inning. Unfortunately for the Doubledays, the Scrappers refused to lay down after their pitching faltered in the second inning. 
Auburn (20-32) fell to Mahoning Valley (24-29), 11-4, as the Scrappers surged early on to win in comeback fashion. 
After the Scrappers scored a single run off Rafael Gomez in the home half of the first, it appeared that the Doubledays were off to the races following a four-run top of the second. The inning started off with some tough luck for Mahoning Valley starter Hunter Gaddis, as leadoff man Onix Vega reached first on a throwing error from shortstop Brayan Rocchio. Vega ended up on third base with no outs following a swiped bag and a single from Jack Dunn, and scored on a subsequent wild pitch. 
An Andrew Pratt single later, and Albert Carrillo found himself with a prime RBI opportunity - runners at the corners and still nobody out. Carrillo ripped a 2-1 pitch to center field to give Auburn their first lead of the night, 2-1. Gaddis managed to collect his first out of the inning on a groundout from Jake Alu, but a single up the middle from Landerson Pena gave the Doubledays a 4-1 lead. 
But the Doubledays' early three-run cushion dissipated quickly as Mahoning Valley batted around Gomez in the home half while scoring a whopping seven runs in the process. Three straight singles gave the Scrappers their first run of the inning and a one-out walk loaded the bases. Back-to-back singles brought in a pair while keeping the bases juiced, and a ground-rule double from Bryan Lavastida broke the game open to give Mahoning Valley a 7-4 lead. A wild pitch put Lavastida at third base, and a single from Michael Cooper - who started the inning with a single - topped off the scoring frenzy by bringing him in. 
It was more of the same story in the fifth as Doubledays reliever Lucas Knowles started off the inning by allowing three straight singles. Two runs then came around to score after a throwing error by JT Arruda, with another one coming on the way on a fielding error by Jose Sanchez,
Gaddis put the Doubledays down in order in the third inning and was followed by Matt Waldron, who silenced Auburn for four innings en route to his first win of the season. The Doubledays managed only two hits against the righty, and collected only one hit against Francis Cespedes, who pitched the final two innings for the Scrappers. 
The Doubledays will be back in action Saturday at 7:05PM for the series finale against the Scrappers.