Doubledays earn comeback win over Scrappers

NILES, O.H. - The Auburn Doubledays (43-28) came back from a 5-0 deficit on Friday night, defeating the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (30-40), 8-6, in front of 3,525 at Eastwood Field. The five-run deficit matches the largest hole the Doubledays have managed to comeback from to win a game this season.

It was a four-run eighth inning that gave Auburn the lead for good. Eight men batted in the inning for the Doubledays, only two of whom got hits. One of those hits was a two-run double by RF Wander Ramos, which drove in the first two runs of the frame. Auburn was also helped out by two Mahoning Valley errors, one of which allowed Ramos to score the third run of the inning. The fourth Doubledays run scored on a balk by LHP Harold Guerrero (0-1), who suffered the loss by allowing all four runs in the frame.

Auburn scored two runs each in the sixth and seventh to get itself in position to take the lead in the eighth. In the sixth DH Brandon Miller crushed a two-out triple to center field, driving in 2B Tony Renda from first. Miller scored when the next batter, LF Estarlin Martinez, hit a line drive single to right. In the seventh SS Wes Schill lead off with a ground-rule double, and that was followed by an infield single by CF Narciso Mesa. Schill scored from third on a sacrifice fly to left, and Mesa came around to score on a single up the middle by 1B Shawn Pleffner.

The Scrappers built their 5-0 lead by scoring all their runs in the second inning. They sent 10 men to the plate in the frame, and collected six hits including a two-run homerun from 2B Joe Wendle. Mahoning Valley also managed to score a run in the ninth to cut a three-run deficit to two. With two outs the Scrappers hit three consecutive singles, the last of which was an RBI single by Wendle. Shortstop Dorssys Paulino struck out after Wendle's single to end the game.

The win went to RHP Ronald Pena (1-0) who made his Doubledays debut by pitching three shutout innings in relief of one-hit ball. RHP David Fischer started for Auburn and went four innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one. RHP Derek Self earned his 13th save of the summer, coming in to record the final out in the ninth.

The Doubledays conclude their three game series with the Scrappers on Saturday September 1. Auburn will send LHP Brett Mooneyham (2-2) to the mound for his ninth start of the season. He will square off against RHP Robbie Aviles (0-2) for Mahoning Valley. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. All Doubledays road games can be heard on WAUB 98.1FM and 1590AM, and online at www.fingerlakesdailynews.com by clicking on the WAUB stream under the "listen" tab.