Big comeback falls short at Falcon Park

AUBURN, NY - Raudy Read continued to rake, launching a three-run home run to get the Doubledays back in it, but a series of early errors came back to cost Auburn, as Hudson Valley took the series with a 7-6 victory at Falcon Park.

The miscues came quickly for the Doubledays. Starter James Bourque (1-1) gave up a run on his own in the first, but in the second, the proceedings unraveled behind him. With one out, shortstop Willie Medina made two consecutive throwing erros to put runners on first and third. Two singles and a ground ball later, the Renegades led 3-0. After Bourque hit Jace Conrad to load the bases, Rays first-round pick Casey Gillaspie ripped a double to right that cleared the pond and put Hudson Valley up 6-0.

Auburn showed tremendous heart in coming back. With five errors and just two hits to their credit, the Doubledays placed runners on the corners with two out. Jose Marmolejos singled in Garrett Gordon to get the Doubledays on the board, and Read followed with a towering no-doubter over the left field fence to get Auburn right back in the game at 6-4.

A Hudson Valley insurance run, on another Gillaspie double in the sixth, proved to be crucial. The Doubledays scored in the seventh when Austin Davidson's sac fly brought Marmolejos home from third, and again in the ninth when Read bounced to first to send in Medina. With the tying run on third with two out, Davidson grounded to the right side and ended the ballgame.

The Doubledays start a three-game set with Boston Red Sox affiliate Lowell on Saturday night at Falcon Park. RHP Austen Williams (0-1, 4.15) goes for Auburn against Spinners RHP Ty Buttrey (0-0, 0.00), with first pitch scheduled for 7:05. There will be a postgame fireworks show presented by Tompkins Trust Company and Finger Lakes News Radio WAUB. Tickets are available right here on auburndoubledays.com, by phone at (315) 255-2489, or at the Falcon Park box office.