Defense, Clutch Hits Put Yankees Up 1-0

Auburn, NY - Monday night was supposed to go the Auburn Doubledays way. In their first championship series since 2007, the Doubledays played their only scheduled home game, where statistically they’ve dominated. For a team who was 27-13 at home this year, Monday night was supposed to be Auburn’s night. Apparently, Staten Island didn’t get that memo. The Yankees took an early advantage and piled on more late in a 9-2 defeat of the Doubledays at Falcon Park.

The Yankees scored the game’s first run, using a leadoff double by Mason Williams to manufacture a run and put them ahead 1-0.

Auburn loaded the bases with one out in the third, but could only get one run home. Russell Moldenhauer crushed a line drive to right-center field that seemed bound for the gap, but Mason Williams made a diving catch, turning what would have been an extra-base hit into only a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, Staten Island added another tally. With one out and the bases clear, Angelo Gumbs lined a solo home run over the left-centerfield fence, giving Staten Island their second lead of the night. They added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Reymond Nunez, and it was 3-1 Yankees headed to the home half of the sixth.

The Doubledays countered with a run in the sixth, despite great defense by Staten Island. After Montilla reached to start the inning, Ortega hit a slow chopper up the middle, deflected by the pitcher Wilton Rodriguez behind second. Angelo Gumbs picked up the baseball behind second base, flipped it against his momentum to Culver on the bag, who threw on to first to complete the double-play. Auburn scored their run later in the inning as Billy Burns singled, stole second, and scored on a bloop double to left by Wilfri Pena. Pena, representing the tying run, was stranded at second base, however, as Caleb Ramsey chopped out to third to end the frame.

That was the last of Auburn’s offense on Monday night. Meanwhile, Staten Island was just getting warmed up.
RBI hits by Casey Stevenson and Nick McCoy put the Yankees up three in the eighth. Four more came home in the ninth against the Doubledays bullpen to turn a competitive game into a 9-2 Yankees rout of the Doubledays.

Auburn is back in action on Tuesday night when they face a must-win scenario in Staten Island. Tuesday night’s game will be broadcast live at 89.1 FM in Auburn and at www.auburndoubledays.com with ‘Voice of the Doubledays’ John Miller on the call. Tune in at 6:50pm for the pregame show, followed by first pitch at 7:05pm.