Offense slumbers; Scrappers stumble

Mahoning Valley managed just four hits in a season-opening loss to Auburn.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUBURN, N.Y. -- The fourth season is under way. All the Mahoning Valley Scrappers need now is some offense.
A lineup that manager Chris Bando predicted would be power-laden was not Tuesday in the Scrappers' 3-1 loss to the Auburn Doubledays at Falcon Park.
Still, there's no need for panic just yet, not with 75 games remaining.
"Hitting is contagious. Once a few guys get a few hits, it rubs off," Bando said. "It's a streaky game."
Three Auburn pitchers held the Scrappers to four hits, none through the first four innings, in making the season opener festive for the Doubledays.
Mahoning Valley's first hit was a big one, off the bat of Jonathan Van Every.
A Scrapper last year now working his way back from a shoulder injury, Van Every doubled off the center-field wall in the fifth inning and went to third after the ball was misplayed. He scored on Matt Knox's groundout.
"It was a 2-0 count, and I knew he would groove me a fastball," Van Every said. "I tried to take [the pitcher's] head off; I almost did. It was a good result."
Working fine
Van Every, who had planned to test his shoulder this season by playing aggressively, made an outstanding play in the second inning from center field.
Sprinting in behind shortstop Angel Abreu, Van Every sprawled out to catch Russ Adams' blooper for the second out.
"I got fooled," Van Every said. "I busted my tail to get there."
If Van Every wanted proof of his shoulder's durability, that was it.
"I've felt good. Every day I've been here, I've thanked the Lord above," he said. "If it does start to hurt ... I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'll keep cutting it loose and see what happens."
That's exactly what pitcher Kyle Evans has been doing. Working his way back from elbow surgery, the right-handed Evans got the start against Auburn.
Interestingly, it was Evans who started the Scrappers' season opener two years ago in Batavia. He just never planned to be at the Class A short-season level at this point.
"It's kind of crazy that way. It's eerily similar," said Evans, who allowed one run on three hits in five innings for a no-decision Tuesday.
Evans walked three batters in the first inning and loaded the bases with two outs before escaping the jam.
"I didn't do a good job of making adjustments," Evans said of that first inning, in which he allowed the one run. "I don't like to give stuff away."
Evans made a spot start for the Double-A Akron Aeros last week as he continues to persevere after the July 2001 surgery.
"It's a trying time, with the emotions," Evans said. "It's such a long process to come back. Fortunately, things have gone well."
Strong pitching
They certainly did for Auburn pitchers Brandon League, Marcos Sandoval (1-0) and Mark Comolli, who combined for 12 strikeouts.
Other than Van Every, the only other Scrappers to get hits were Hose Gomez, Knox and Abreu.
"They had three quality arms they threw at us," Bando said. "That's as good as you'll see probably in this league, in terms of their velocity and breaking stuff. Good pitching will stop good hitting any day of the week."
The Scrappers' best chance to rally from a 3-1 deficit came on Gomez's double in the seventh inning, but a baserunning blunder ruined the opportunity.
With Knox on first after singling, Gomez hit a long fly ball to left field. Auburn left-fielder Nom Siriveaw fell on the warning track, and the ball dropped against the wall.
Seeing the wave home from coach Willie Aviles, Knox hustled around third. But Aviles changed his mind at the last second, forcing Knox back to third.
Meanwhile, Gomez never stopped running once he got to second, and both baserunners ended up at third. Gomez was erased 8-6-5-4 by the Doubledays.
"Gomez ran with his head down. You have to run with your head up," Bando said. "I'm sure he was excited the ball fell in."
Paul Richmond's two-run triple off Scrappers reliever Matt Blethen (0-1) in the sixth gave Auburn its winning runs.
MAHONING VALLEYAUBURN
abrhbiabrhbi
Wright rf3000Adams ss2100
Larkin 2b4000Rivera 2b3010
Baxter 1b1000Kimberly cf3000
Wallace c4000Johnston 1b3110
Van Every cf4110Durazo dh3010
Knox 3b4011Owens rf3001
Gomez dh4010Siriveaw lf4100
Conroy lf4000Richmond c4012
Abreu ss3010Hassey 3b4010
Totals31141Totals29353
Mahoning Valley000010000--1
Auburn10000200x--3
E--Larkin, Kimberly, Johnston. DP--Auburn 1. LOB--Auburn 9, Mahoning Valley 7. 3B--Richmond. 2B--Van Every, Gomez. SH--Rivera. SB--Baxter.
IPHRERBBSO
Mahoning Valley
Evans531137
Blethen L, 0-1222031
Culp100002
Auburn
League521025
Sandoval W, 1-0320024
Comolli S, 1100003
PB--Wallace, Richmond. Umpires--Bill Coble, home; Trevor Grieve, bases. T--2:29. A--2,060.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST INNING
AUBURN 1, MAHONING VALLEY 0
Doubledays: Kyle Evans pitching. Russ Adams walked, William Rivera singled to right, Adams to second. Glynn Kimberly flied out to center. Clint Johnston struck out. Ernie Durazo walked, Adams to third, Rivera to second, bases loaded. Justin Owens walked, Adams scored, Rivera to third, Durazo to second, bases loaded. Nom Siriveaw grounded out to second. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 left.
FIFTH INNING
AUBURN 1, MAHONING VALLEY 1
Scrappers: Brandon League pitching. Jonathan Van Every doubled off the center-field wall, advanced to third on an error by the center-fielder. Matt Knox grounded out to short, Van Every scored. Hose Gomez grounded out back to the pitcher. Mike Conroy reached first on an error by the first baseman, Angel Abreu singled in the infield, Conroy to second. Brian Wright struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 2 errors, 2 left.
SIXTH INNING
AUBURN 3, MAHONING VALLEY 1
Doubledays: Matt Blethen pitching. Johnston singled to left, Durazo reached on an error by the second baseman, Johnston to second. Owens popped out to the catcher. Siriveaw reached on a fielder's choice, Johnston to third, Durazo out at second. Paul Richmond tripled to left-center field, Johnston, Siriveaw scored. Brad Hassey struck out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left.
richesson@vindy.com