Bullpen Dominates in Five-Run Win

Troy, NY - On Saturday night, the Doubledays needed to come from behind to beat Tri-City. Sunday night was different. Scoring two runs in the top of the first, Auburn never looked back in a 6-1 defeat of the Tri-City ValleyCats at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Sunday night.

With a lead in tact, the Auburn bullpen did the rest, tossing five and one-third innings of one hit, scoreless baseball as the Doubledays took the first two games of the three games series with the Tri-City ValleyCats.

Entering play on Sunday night, the Doubledays were 15-3 when scoring the game’s first run. Sunday night proved to be no different. With one out in the first, Bryce Ortega doubled down the left-field line, giving Matt Skole an early RBI opportunity. Skole worked a walk instead and advanced to second when Justin Miller was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Russell Moldenhauer. Instead of driving in a run with his bat, Moldenhauer did so with good plate discipline, working a bases loaded walk and allowing Ortega to score the game’s first run. Angelberth Montilla followed with a chopper up the third-base line that allowed Skole to score from third, giving the Doubledays an early two run lead.

Tri-City would counter in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with nobody out with three walks against Auburn starter Nathan Karns. Instead of giving up a big inning, Karns limited the damage. Matt Duffy grounded into a double play, allowing John Hinson to score, and Zach Johnson grounded out to end the inning, leaving the Doubledays with a 2-1 lead.

Auburn added more offense in the second inning, using a two-out, bases empty walk to Caleb Ramsey and turning it into a run. Ramsey stole second base, putting him in scoring position for Bryce Ortega, who singled into right field, scoring Ramsey and putting the Doubledays up two.

Just like good teams do, the Auburn Doubledays continued to add to their lead.

In the fourth, Connor Rowe led off with a double to left field and scored on a base hit by Wilfri Pena. In the fifth, Angelberth Montilla launched his third homerun of the year, a line drive into the ValleyCats’ bullpen in left field. In the sixth, the Doubledays took advantage of a leadoff walk to Caleb Ramsey, when he stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Skole.

After the two runs scored in the first inning, Auburn added single tallies in innings two, four, five, and six, increasing their lead to five.

The ValleyCats would get no closer.

The Doubledays used another dominating performance from their bullpen. Kelvin Lopez, Travis Henke, and Manuel Rivera combined for five and one-third innings of two hit, no run baseball, securing a 6-1 win for the Doubledays.

With the win, Auburn finds themselves a game out of first place in the Pinckney division, trailing only Mahoning Valley.

Auburn will look to sweep the Tri-City ValleyCats in a Monday morning matinee at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 11am, with the Doubledays pregame show starting at 10:45am. Fans are invited to listen live to the ‘Voice of the Doubledays,’ John Miller, describe the action on 89.1 FM in Auburn, NY or at www.auburndoubledays.com.