Stephen records Ironbirds' second cycle

Jedidiah Stephen hit for the cycle Saturday, but it was not enough for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, who were beaten by the Auburn Doubledays, 10-5.

Stephen ripped an RBI triple in the second inning, smacked his first homer of the year, a solo shot in the fifth, and singled in the seventh. He doubled in the ninth to become the second player in franchise history -- and the second Minor Leaguer on Saturday -- to hit for the cycle.

Danny Figueroa punctuated the Ironbirds' first cycle with a grand slam in a 17-6 rout of Staten Island last Aug. 23.

It was the first career four-hit game for Stephen, who was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth round of last year's draft. He spent last season with Aberdeen, then played one game in May before an injury landed him on the disabled list.

The 23-year-old shortstop was playing his fifth game since being activated and is batting .400 (6-for-15) with a homer and three RBIs.

Shawn Scobee went 3-for-4 with a sixth-inning grand slam for the Doubledays (13-6). He also singled in the second and third.

Jonathan Arencibia smacked a solo shot, his second, in the first and scored three times, while Benjamin Zeskind had two doubles and scored twice. Victor Santana chipped in three hits to help Auburn win its seventh straight.

Doubledays starter Brett Cecil (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts over five innings.

Ironbirds starter Zach Britton gave up one run on five hits while striking out six and walking one in four frames. Aubrey Miller (0-1) took the loss after surrendering seven runs -- four earned -- on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in one inning.

Robbie Widlansky went 2-for-4 and scored twice for Aberdeen (6-12).