NEW YORK-PENN Scrappers take lead in division

Mahoning Valley blanked Auburn to climb into sole ownership of first place for the first time this year.
AUBURN, N.Y. -- For the first time this season, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are in sole possession of first place in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League.
The Scrappers (43-27), who have won eight of their last nine starts, rode the strong pitching performance of Brian Slocum and two relievers to a 3-0 decision over the Auburn Doubledays Thursday.
Slocum (5-2) pitched the first seven innings and held the Doubledays to two hits and struck out six. He exited with a 2-0 lead.
Dan Rich and Kevin Martin combined to pitch the final two innings, yielding just one hit. Martin got his fifth save.
Strong finish
The two teams played 15 times this season with the Doubledays (42-28) claiming the series, 8-7, but the Scrappers won seven of the final 12 meetings.
The Scrappers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when shortstop Eider Torres doubled in Ricardo Rojas, who was making his first start. Brian Wright followed with a sacrifice fly.
Catcher Dave Wallace made it 3-0 in the eighth when he singled in Wright.
Torres and Wallace each finished 2-for-4, and Shaun Larkin and Rojas were each 2-for-3. The Scrappers had more hits, 10-3.
Williamsport wins
In Thursday's other New York-Penn League game with playoff importance, Williamsport (43-27) defeated Aberdeen 8-7 in 10 innings.
Staten Island leads the McNamara Division with a 45-23 record, three games ahead of Williamsport. Williamsport is a game in front of Auburn in the wild card chase.
The Scrappers begin a three-game series at Oneonta (43-25) tonight. Oneonta has already wrapped up the Stedler Division.
SCRAPPERSAUBURN
abrhbiabrhbi
Francisco cf4000Hassey ss4000
Torres ss4121Rivera 2b4000
Wright rf2111Owens rf3010
Peavey dh4000Schneider c3000
Wallace c4021Durazo lf3000
Larkin 2b3020Jimenez lf0000
Baxter 1b4010Siriveaw ph1010
Simoneaux 3b4000Waugh cf3010
Rojas lf3120Richmond dh3000
Johnson 1b3000
German 3b3000
Totals323103Totals30030
Scrappers002000010--3
Auburn000000000--0
E--German, Torres, Simoneaux. DP--Auburn 2. LOB--Scrappers 5, Auburn 6. 2B--Owens, Torres. SB--Wright. CS--Waugh, Torres. SF--Wright.
IPHRERBBSO
Scrappers
Slocum W, 5-2720016
Rich1 2-310012
Martin S, 51-300000
Auburn
Mora L, 1-1782015
Maureau111110
Sandoval110000
HBP--by Slocum (Schneider). WP--Mora. Umpires: home, Brian Riley; field, Joe Smith. T--2:09, A--2,329.