The Auburn Doubledays, Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, lost for the second consecutive game to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, 5-4. The Doubledays dropped the final two games of the three-game series.Auburn (1-4) scored first for the second straight game,
The Auburn Doubledays, Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, lost for the second consecutive game to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, 5-4. The Doubledays dropped the final two games of the three-game series.
Auburn (1-4) scored first for the second straight game, as Chance Shepard blasted his first home run of the season to right centerfield in the top of the fifth inning. Mahoning Valley (3-2) responded with a home run of its own in the bottom half of the fifth; Oscar Gonzalez's three-run shot propelled the Scrappers to a 3-1 lead.
The Doubledays tied the game with a two-run seventh inning. Omar Meregildo's triple, the first of the season for Auburn, brought home Randy Encarnacion to make it 3-2. Joshual Ramirez followed with a single into centerfield to score Meregildo and knot the game up at 3. Yet, Oscar Gonzalez spoiled the party once again, as his two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning put Mahoning Valley in the lead for good. Gonzalez drove in all five Scrappers runs in the game. Auburn mustered up one run in the top of the eighth, but struck out in order in the ninth inning to seal the loss.
Jonathan Teaney earned the win for Mahoning Valley in relief despite the fact he gave up the two runs in the seventh inning that briefly tied the game for Auburn. Domingo Jimenez earned the save, striking out the side in the ninth inning. Joseph Baltrip took the loss in relief for Auburn, allowing the two-run home run in the seventh inning that pushed the Scrappers in the lead for good.
The Doubledays return home to Falcon Park for a three-game series with the Williamsport Crosscutters, Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, starting Saturday at 6:05. Righty Tomas Alastre starts for Auburn, while Williamsport counters with a lefty hurler in Kyle Young. The Doubledays lost their lone home game of the season on Tuesday, 19-18 to Batavia in 11 innings.
