Doubledays late rally falls short
The Auburn Doubledays, Single-A Short Season affiliate of the Washington Nationals, dropped game two of their three-game series with the West Virginia Black Bears on Friday night, 7-4. Auburn scored four runs combined in the seventh and eighth innings, and left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning.
West Virginia jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first four innings. The Black Bears scored two runs in the first, one run in the second, two more runs in the third, and another run in the fourth. Will Craig drove in three of the six runs, while Ty Moore racked up three hits (two singles and a double) in the first four innings. Moore has reached in eight of his nine at-bats against the Doubledays this series.
Auburn mounted a rally in the seventh and eighth innings. Nick Banks singled to begin the seventh inning, and after a fly-out from Paul Panaccione, Oliver Ortiz doubled to put runners on second and third. David Kerian promptly doubled off the wall in right-field, scoring both Banks and Ortiz.
After West Virginia added a run in the top of 8th, Auburn struck back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. The Doubledays loaded the bases off a Daniel Johnson single, a Juan Soto double, and a Nick Banks walk. Paul Panaccione drove in Johnson with a sacrifice fly, then Oliver Ortiz singled to bring in Soto. In his first two games with Auburn, Juan Soto has reached in six of his nine at-bats, including three singles, a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
The Black Bears failed to scored in the top of the ninth inning, leaving the Doubledays one last chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Luis Vilorio walked to begin the frame, then moved to second on Daniel Johnson's one-out single. After Clayton Brandt popped out for the inning's second out, Juan Soto walked to load the bases. Nick Banks struck out swinging to end the game, representing the winning run at home plate.
The Doubledays look to salvage one game from the three-game series Saturday night at Falcon Park. Right-hander Weston Davis starts for Auburn in the final home game in the 2016 season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.