AUBURN - During their five-game slide last week, one of the Auburn Doubledays' biggest problems was a lack of timely hitting. That was far from the case at Falcon Park, Saturday.

The Doubledays returned home from a three-day road trip with a bang, belting out 12 hits in a 9-4 win over Lowell.

“There's no place like home,” said Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg.

Auburn took the lead three separate times in the victory, but claimed it for good in the seventh inning when left fielder Luis Rivera ripped his second two-run double of the game.

“I was trying to play my game,” Rivera said of his big night. “I was trying not to do too much and that's what happens.”

Rivera put the Doubledays up early when he brought in Brian Van Kirk and Jon Del Campo in the second inning on a long double into center field. The Spinners, a Boston Red Sox affiliate, tied the score in the third when Ryan Dent blasted a two-run homer over Rivera's head in left. The blast was one of eight hits given up by Doubledays starter Castillo Perez. Through six innings, Perez finally avoided the one bad inning, and earned his first win of the year, striking out six.

“Perez pitched all right Holmberg said. ”This was a good win for us to come from after Aberdeen. Hopefully it will propel us into bigger and more often ones.“

On the hill for the Spinners, starter Drake Britton's struggles continued in the fifth inning, when he gave up two hits and as many runs to give Auburn its second lead of the game. Britton was pulled three batters and just one out in the fifth in favor of Hunter Strickland, who suffered the loss. Auburn pelted eight hits off Strickland, three more in the sixth when Rivera capped off the win. Del Campo brought in two more runs on a two-run double of his own in the seventh and Chris Hopkins nailed a sacrifice fly to score catcher Joel Collins.

“(Del Campo) has gotten us some big hits the last two nights to help us add to the leads, he's been hitting much better lately,” Holmberg said.

Deshawn Brooks led Lowell with three hits and a run, while Zach Gentile singled to bring in Luis Sumoza for the team's final run of the game. Dan O'Brien earned a hold for the Doubledays, replacing Perez for two innings and allowing just two hits. Justin Cryer closed the game, but was not in a save situation.

Today, the Doubledays (14-11) look to take their first series out of their last three.

“It's much better to win at home,” Rivera said. “The fans enjoy the game out here and its nice to come away with a win.”

Notes: Hopkins, who led off in the lineup, stole two bases before scoring in the fifth. ... Auburn overcame three errors, while Lowell committed none. ... In his home debut, first baseman Mike McDade went 1-for-4 with an RBI. The burly player was thrown out at home in the seventh. ... Every Auburn batter earned a hit but Van Kirk and Bartolo Nicolas, who shared the No. 5 spot. Every Spinners batter was part of the team's 11 hits, but leadoff hitter Mitch Denning went 0-for-5. ... While replacing Van Kirk in right field, Nicolas made two spectacular catches that likely would have gone for extra bases. ... Rivera had no doubles and just two RBIs through 33 at-bats prior to Saturday. ... Shortstop Bryan Kervin was sent in for backup for AAA Syracuse on Saturday and will be there just for the weekend.

Doubledays 9

Spinners 4