SCRAPPERS NOTEBOOK | From Cafaro Field

Momentum boost: The Scrappers won Sunday's game 4-3 on Andrew Baxter's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Manager Chris Bando said that momentum carried over to Monday. "Absolutely. Those are the type of games that can turn a season around and get you going on a streak," he said. "That can give a team confidence and push them forward." That was evident in Shaun Larkin's home run to begin Monday's game. "When you get a run in the first inning, that does some damage," third baseman Brad Guglielmelli said. "It takes the wind out of the other team."
Familiar face: Pitcher Victor Kleine, who shut down the Doubledays on Monday, went 1-8 last season with a 5.25 ERA at Mahoning Valley. But an abdominal muscle, which he hurt in the second week of spring training, has Kleine rehabbing with the Scrappers. "I'll just get through the season and get some rest," Kleine said. "It hurts more when I'm not throwing. When I'm on the mound, I just zone in." Kleine was locked in Monday, limiting Auburn to two hits in six innings. "Hopefully this will give him some confidence," Bando said. "He's got too good of an arm not to pitch well."
Long ball: The Scrappers have homered in three straight games. Dave Wallace connected Saturday; Brian Wright and Jeff Haase homered Sunday; and Shaun Larkin opened Monday's game with a home run over the right-field wall.
Growing pains: After Monday's 0-for-4 game against Auburn, Scrappers left-fielder Mike Conroy is 0-for-21 in six games this season. Bando has not lost confidence in his young player, who is only 19 years old. "He just has to battle; that's part of developing," Bando said. "He's the youngest player on the team. He's learning the hard way, but it's going to make him a better player down the road. He's going to come out of it."
Containing Adams: Auburn shortstop Russ Adams, the Toronto Blue Jays' top pick in this year's draft, came into Monday's game batting .429, fifth in the New York-Penn League. But the Scrappers shut him down Monday as he went 0-for-4.
In honor: The flags in right-center field at Cafaro Field were lowered halfway in remembrance of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, who passed away Saturday at the age of 33.
Drop in attendance: One of the Scrappers' smallest crowds at a regular season game turned out Monday. Mahoning Valley announced 2,365 fans. Going into Monday's game, their fourth of the season, the Scrappers were averaging just under 5,000 per game. Leading the New York-Penn League is Brooklyn with 8,300 fans per game.
Schedule: The Scrappers play Auburn again tonight before beginning a three-game home series with the Hudson Valley Renegades. Mahoning Valley's Blake Allen will face Ryan Houston. Shane Wallace is scheduled to pitch Wednesday. Each game begins at 7 p.m.
-- Brian Richesson