Mistakes costs Scrappers’ sweep hopes

Staff report

AUBURN, N.Y.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ sweep attempt against the Auburn Doubledays came up short thanks to a few costly mistakes.

The Scrappers raced out to an early lead, but two errors and a passed ball led to three unearned runs in Thursday’s 7-5 loss to the Doubledays.

The Scrappers struck first. With two outs in the fourth inning, Clark Scolamiero doubled home Richie Palacios and Mitch Reeves for a 2-0 lead.

The advantage did not last long. The Doubledays took the lead 3-2 after a two-base throwing error in the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Auburn scored three more runs in the next two at-bats.

Scolamiero hit a RBI single in the sixth inning.

An inning later, the Scrappers cut the deficit to 6-5 with Palacios cracking a double that scored Jose Fermin and Tyler Freeman.

Scrappers starter Juan Mota (1-3) took the loss in 4.2 innings of work. He allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits. Mota walked one and struck out one but hit two.

The Scrappers (19-12) will be in Batavia, N.Y., tonight to open a three-game series against the Muckdogs.

The Scrappers will return home to Eastwood Field in Niles on Tuesday with a game against the Brooklyn Cyclones.