Doubledays double walk-off in doubleheader
AUBURN, NY - You only see so many walk-off victories a season. After all, it's one of the most exciting moments in baseball for a reason. But two in one night? In the same building?
Falcon Park has you covered.
The Auburn Doubledays stormed to walk-off wins in both ends of a doubleheader, taking the first 5-4 in nine innings, while concluding the night by winning the second 2-1 in a regulation seven frames over Jamestown. Both games saw the Doubledays make dramatic comebacks to tie before celebrating wins.
Game 1 was arguably the more epic of the two. Chase McDowell made a valiant spot start, tossing four innings of one-run ball, and the Doubledays went into the sixth up 2-1. But the Jammers socked two home runs off reliever RC Orlan, putting Auburn in a 4-2 hole. Cody Gunter doubled in Jeff Gardner in the sixth to make it 4-3, and Osvaldo Abreu came home from third on a double play ball by Raudy Read to tie the game in the seventh and send it to extras.
The Jammers put runners on in both the eighth and ninth, but Mario Sanchez (6-1) fought through the jams to keep the Doubledays alive. In the bottom of the ninth, Clay Williamson and Abreu both singled with one out. Jammers reliever Luis Urena then uncorked a wild pitch to send the runners to second and third. That proved to be crucial, as Jose Marmolejos knocked a sacrifice fly to deep center that easily scored Williamson and won the game for the Doubledays.
Game 2 was a pitcher's duel from the start, as Nick Neumann and Luis Reyes battled for four innings. Reyes finally cracked in the fifth, when Jordan Luplow flew to deep center to bring in Erik Forgione from third and get the Jammers on the board. Neumann hit his pitch count after the fourth and was removed for Sam Street, who promptly loaded the bases with a single, a walk, and a hit by pitch. With Garrett Gordon at the plate, Jammers catcher Taylor Gushue let a low pitch by him, scoring Bryan Mejia and tying the game.
Reliever Tyler Mapes (1-1), who picked up his first professional win, threw two scoreless innings to maintain the 1-1 pace. In the bottom of the seventh, the Jammers defense fell apart. Mejia reached on a fielding error by shortstop Tyler Filliben, and then went to second when Filliben threw the ball away. Marmolejos lined to right for the second out of the inning, but Mejia took third on another passed ball by Gushue. Austin Davidson bounced one to second that should have been the third out, but Erik Forgione bobbled the ball for the third Jamestown error of the inning, and Mejia crossed the plate with the winning run.
The Doubledays and Jammers conclude their season series on Tuesday night at Falcon Park. RHP James Bourque (2-5, 4.36) climbs the mound for Auburn against Jamestown RHP Montana DuRapau (2-2, 2.29). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, with the gates set to open at 6.