Doubledays lose to Batavia in extras

AUBURN, N.Y. - The Auburn Doubledays (36-24) came back from a three-run deficit against the Batavia Muckdogs (32-28) on Monday to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, but after doing so they allowed three more runs the very next inning to eventually fall 7-4 in 10 innings. The loss puts the Doubledays record in extra-inning games this season at 5-4.

It was a double by CF Matthew Young that drove in the first two runs of the 10th for Batavia. Young scored the third run of the inning when he was driven home by a single off the bat of DH Breyvic Valera, who finished the night with four hits.

The Doubledays tied the game in the ninth when RF Brandon Miller leadoff the inning with a line drive single up the middle. The next batter, DH Craig Manuel, was hit by a pitch, putting two on with no outs. After both 3B Wes Schill and catcher Spencer Kieboom couldn't move the runners over, Estarlin Martinez entered the game as a pinch runner replacing Miller at second. That proved to be a great decision as CF Narciso Mesa smacked a two-out single up the middle, which allowed Martinez to score.

Auburn collected a pair of runs in the eighth to put itself in position to be able to tie in the ninth. A double by SS Mike McQuillan put two runners in scoring position with one out. With 1B Shawn Pleffner at the plate, RHP Brandon Creath threw a wild pitch that got past catcher Jonathan Keener, allowing Mesa to score from third. McQuillan moved over to third on the wild pitch and then scored when Pleffner stroked a single to right.

The Muckdogs took their initial 3-0 lead over the course of the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth three consecutive singles loaded the bases with one out, so that allowed Young to drive in a run with a sacrifice fly out to right. In the fifth both runs scored on a double to center field off the bat of 2B Jacob Wilson.

The Doubledays got one run back in the bottom of the fifth when a sacrifice fly of their own hit by Schill brought in their first run of the game. The Muckdogs responded in the sixth, however, when Young was brought home from second on a single up the middle by Valera.

LHP Jack McGeary (0-1) suffered the loss for Auburn. He pitched one inning and was charged for two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk. LHP Brett Mooneyham started the game for the Doubledays and went four innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three. Despite being charged with his second blown save of the summer, RHP Jose Pasen (1-1) got credit for the win, pitching two innings and allowing one earned run on two hits.

The Doubledays begin a three-game series with the State College Spikes in Auburn on Tuesday August 21. Auburn will send RHP Pedro Encarnacion (3-1) to the mound for his 10th start of the summer. He will match up against LHP Joely Rodriguez (3-1) for State College. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. It will be a "Two-for-Tuesday" with beers, sodas, slushies, and burgers all available for $2.00 a piece. You can also purchase two general admissions tickets for the price of one. Tickets available by calling the Doubledays box office at 315-255-2489 or by going online to www.auburndoubledays.com.