Doubledays Split Series Against Batavia After 4-2 Loss

AUBURN, NY - The Doubledays (35-26) found themselves on the losing end of a 4-2 game after defeating the Muckdogs (27-33) by the same score on Saturday. Despite solid outings by all three pitchers that Auburn threw at Batavia, four single run innings proved to be too much for the Doubledays to overcome.
Jake Irvin had himself a fantastic New York-Penn League debut. The 21-year old 4th round draft pick from this year's draft went two strong innings - like he had his previous five times out with the Gulf Coast Nationals - to open up the game while allowing just single hit to the contest's first batter. He was relieved by Aaron Fletcher in the third inning, but unlike what the fans at Falcon Park are used to seeing every time he hits the mound, the University of Houston product wasn't his usual sharp self.
He gave up four hits over his own two inning outing, one of which was a Bubba Hollins single that brought home big Sean Reynolds from second base in the fourth inning. Listed at six-foot-seven and 237 pounds, Reynolds put himself into scoring position by swiping his team leading 11th bag of the season.
Batavia put themselves right back on the offensive in the fifth by stringing together three straight hits. While the Doubledays were able to stop the damage and limit the Muckdogs to just one run, Batavia would end the contest with two more one-run innings in the sixth and seventh - all of which came with Nector Ramirez on the mound.
The Doubledays did manage to storm back in the sixth inning to break up the shutout. With Muckdogs reliever Eli Villalobos pulled after a scoreless fifth inning for Ryan McKay, Auburn loaded the bases and brought their first run of the game in on a force out at second base. A safety squeeze by Justin Connell scored run No. 2 when Villalobos went home with the throw instead of first. The tag was not applied in time and allowed a sprinting Pablo O'Connor to slide in safe.
The Doubledays will be back in action Monday at 6:30 PM to kick off their series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.