Scrappers down Auburn extras

Staff report

Auburn N.Y.

Simeon Lucas hit his third home run of the season to give the Mahoning Valley Scrappers a 9-6 win in extra innings over the Auburn Doubledays.

Lucas hit a two-run homer over the right-center field wall to leadoff the top of the 10th inning to give the Scrappers a 8-6 lead.

Auburn led 5-0 after the second inning, but the Scrappers scored six runs in the final three innings.

With the Scrappers trailing 6-4, Clark Scolamiero tied the game with a two-run home run in top of the ninth.

Hosea Nelson hit a sacrifice fly in the third and Henry Pujols hit his seventh home run of the year in the fourth to cut the lead to 5-2.

The Mahoning Valley offense score again until the eighth inning. Lucas drove in Tyler Freeman on an RBI single and Michael Tinsley hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 6-4.

Lucas finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

Scrappers starter Juan Mota allowed five runs on six hits and a walk in two innings. But the bullpen came through.

Mahoning Valley used four relievers in the final eight innings. The bullpen allowed one run on two hits and five walks.

Erick Algarin improved to 1-2 after pitching two scoreless innings for the Scrappers.

With the win, the Scrappers (35-28) reclaimed a half-game lead over the Doubledays (35-29) for the top spot in the Pinckney Division.

The Scrappers will return to Eastwood Field for a three-game series with the West Virginia Black Bears. The first game of the series is scheduled for tonight at 7:05 p.m.