Sever’s ninth-inning double lifts Scrappers

Staff report

AUBURN, N.Y.

Joe Sever delivered a two-out, RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to snap a tie and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers held on to clinch a 3-2 victory over Auburn on Friday night in New York-Penn League play.

The Scrappers (28-35) clinched the win in the bottom of the ninth when first baseman Erik Gonzalez caught a line drive and doubled the Doubledays’ Narcisco Mesa off first base for an unassisted, game-ending double play.

Gonzalez drove in the Scrappers’ first run with a third-inning single and picked up another RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the fifth.

Reliever Josh Martin (4-1) got the victory with two hitless innings.

The teams will meet at 7:05 tonight in Auburn. The series will conclude on Sunday. The Scrappers open a homestand Monday against Batavia.