Lopez powers Doubledays past Scrappers 8-4

AUBURN, N.Y. - The Auburn Doubledays (31-22) took a 5-0 lead after one inning on Sunday and never looked back, rolling to an 8-4 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (25-28). The Doubledays eight runs came on just seven hits, as they were out-hit in the game 11-7.

Four of Auburn's five first-inning runs came thanks to one swing of the bat by 3B Carlos Lopez, who belted a 2-0 pitch over the left field fall for the Doubledays' third grand slam of the summer. It was Lopez's second homerun of the season and his first at Falcon Park. One run had already scored in the inning prior to the grand slam, as starting CF Wander Ramos had drawn a walk with the bases loaded to pick up his team-leading 28th RBI of the summer.

The Scrappers managed to get a run back in the second when 1B Micahel Nilsson hit a one-out double to center field. A single by starting 3B Erik Gonzalez brought him to third, and he scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by RF Andrew Campbell. Auburn again went up by five in the third when a double by starting RF Brandon Miller put two runners in scoring position with one out. Ramos brought LF Estarlin Martinez home from third with a groundout to third to make it 6-1.

Mahoning Valley scored the next two runs, collecting one each in the fifth and sixth to cut the Doubledays lead in half. In the fifth a fielding error by SS Wes Schill allowed SS Robel Garcia to score from third. In the sixth it was an RBI single from Nilsson that did the damage, as he drove in DH Charlie Valerio from second.

Auburn took its third five-run lead of the day in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs 1B Chris Marrero doubled to center field, and that sent catcher Spencer Kieboom home from second. Then, Marrero scored on a single to center by DH Shawn Pleffner. The Scrappers were able to plate one run in the ninth on an RBI single from Campbell, but that would be all they could muster against Doubledays RHP Derek Self, who has taken over the closer role of late.

RHP David Fischer (2-3) got the start and earned the win for Auburn, going five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out five and walking none. RHP Jake Sisco (1-4) got tagged with the loss for Mahoning Valley, as he lasted just three innings and was charged for six earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three.

The Doubledays will have two days off as part of the New York-Penn League All-Star Break, and then resume their schedule Wednesday August 15 in Mahoning Valley as they take on the Scrappers for two more games. First pitch on Wednesday 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.