Doubledays Back In 1st Place After Doubleheader Sweep

The Doubledays have finally made their way back on top of the division after trailing the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for first place over the past two months. Behind solid pitching and timely offense, Auburn's (32-24) doubleheader sweep against the Scrappers (32-24) puts the Doubledays back in first place since the first series of the season against Batavia.
Despite having a "rough outing" by Jackson Stoeckinger standards - he allowed a season-high three earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched - the Doubledays offense was able to rally behind their starter and get him his third win of the season.
Auburn found itself in an early deficit after Mahoning Valley put up two runs on three hits in the very first inning. A ground-rule double, single, and another double gave the Scrappers an early 2-0 lead behind their starter, Zack Draper.
But the Doubledays' offense got started soon after. A single, fielder's choice, and wild pitch put a runner on third for Jose Sanchez to score during the second inning, and a bases-loaded single in the third inning by Kyle Marinconz knotted the game back up at 2-2.
With the game tied and the bases still juiced, Nic Perkins ripped a ball over the heart of the plate for a grand slam. His home run - the first he's hit since June 26 - was his second of the season and gave Perkins his most RBI in a game (4) since playing professional baseball. The Doubledays scored an additional run in the fifth inning by having young gun Israel Pineda flash his speed and score from first base on a double to take a commanding 7-3 lead.
The Scrappers did make some noise as Nector Ramirez attempted to close out the shortened seven-inning game by plating three runs, but a groundout to second baseman Carson Shaddy secured the Game 1 win.
Game 2 started very much the same way as the night's first face off by battling a 2-0 deficit early on. But much like Game 1, Auburn's offense got started shortly after.
The Doubledays stormed back in the fourth inning after the Scrappers scored a pair off of starter Ryan Tapani just a half inning earlier. A pair of doubles by Sanchez and Cody Wilson plated Auburn's first run of the game, and a third double - added by Pablo O'Connor - tied it up. Back-to-back singles by Adalberto Carrillo and Perkins gave Auburn a hefty 4-2 lead, and solo runs in the fourth and seventh secured their 6-3 win and a share of first place in Pinckney Division.
The Doubledays will be back in action Friday at 7:05 PM in Mahoning Valley as they attempt to take sole possession of the Pinckney Division from the Scrappers. You can listen live on Fingerlakes1.com.