Scrappers take doubleheader on the road

Staff report

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have a chance to return to Eastwood Field with a sweep of the Auburn Doubledays under their belt after winning both games in a doubleheader on Sunday.

Both games were seven-inning affairs.

All three runs in the Scrappers’ 3-0 Game 1 win came in the top of the fourth inning. Cathcer Gian Paul Gonzalez walked with the bases loaded to score first baseman Ulysses Cantu. Shortstop Elvis Perez followed up with a two-run single.

Starting pitcher Grant Hockin pitched five innings, striking out 3 and walking two to pick up his first win of the season.

Riley Echols gave up one hit and struck out one across two innings to earn the save.

Between the two pitchers, they combined to give up just three hits.

Doubledays starter Tomas Alastre gave up three runs on five hits, striking out three while taking the loss.

Auburn first baseman Chance Shepard hit a double for the losing side.

Cantu hit his second home run of the season — a two-run shot in the sixth — during a 3-2 victory in Game 2.

Auburn was first on the board with Paul Panaccione’s solo home run.

After Cantu’s homer, Auburn tied the game with Shepard hitting a solo home run.

Tyler Friis’ hit the go-ahead RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning to score Silento Sayles and decide the contest.

Michael Hendrickson picked up a blown save but got the win in relief, striking out two while giving up a run and a walk in the sixth.

Pin-Hsueh Chen pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two to get his first save of the season.

Angel Guillen gave up the deciding run in the seventh to take the loss.

The Scrappers face the Doubledays one more time today at 5:05 p.m. before making the return trip to Niles for the Fourth of July.