Doubledays come back to beat Lowell 11-5

AUBURN, N.Y. - The Auburn Doubledays (11-5) continued their winning ways at home on Wednesday night, when they came back from a 5-0 first inning deficit to defeat the Lowell Spinners (5-12) 11-5 in front of 2,163 in attendance at Falcon Park. The win improves the Doubledays home record to 8-1, and the 5-0 hole is the largest deficit the team has come back from to win this season.

Auburn went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Third baseman Carlos Alvarez lead the inning off with a single to left, and he advanced to second when LF Aneury Tavarez couldn't come up with the ground ball cleanly, costing Tavarez an error. Two more Spinners miscues allowed Alvarez to score the go-ahead run, as he advanced from second to third on a passed ball, and he scored from third on a wild pitch, all while CF Angelberth Montilla was at the plate. Montilla ended up walking, and he came around to score the second run of the inning on an infield grounder that turned into an error by Spinners 2B Mookie Betts.

The Doubledays extended their lead in the eighth by plating four runs on three hits and some more Spinners miscues. Shortstop Stephen Perez lead off the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Lowell pitcher at the time Leandro Marin. Left fielder Jordan Poole sent Perez to third on a single to right. Catcher Spencer Kieboom then reached on a fielder's choice that was unsuccessful in tagging out Perez at third. With the bases loaded and 2B Tony Renda at the dish, Perez scored on a wild pitch, which allowed the other two runners to advance. Renda picked up his first hit of the night in the at-bat, pushing Poole home from third. Kieboom and Renda both scored on a double to left later in the inning by DH Shawn Pleffner.

The five Lowell runs all came in the first inning against Auburn starter RHP Pedro Encarnacion (2-0). None of the five runs were earned as the Doubledays committed two errors in the inning. The first was a fielding error by Perez that allowed 1B Devin Chester to reach first and put runners at first and second with two outs. After a walk loaded the bases, a fielding error by 3B Carlos Alvarez allowed the first Spinners run to score and the bases to remain loaded for DH Seth Schwindenhammer. Schwindenhammer quickly unloaded the bases by blasting a grand slam over the right field wall, putting Lowell ahead 5-0.

Despite allowing all five first inning runs, Encarnacion lasted six innings to pick up the win. In total he allowed two hits, two walks, and struck out seven. Taking the loss was LHP Zach Good (0-3) for Lowell. He went four innings surrendering seven runs (five earned) on seven hits while walking four. RHP Derek Self picked up his first save of the season for Auburn, since he entered the game with two out in the eighth when the Doubledays were leading by two and there were two runners aboard. In 1.1 innings Self did not allow a hit or a run.

The Doubledays continue their three game series with the Spinners on Thursday, July 5. Auburn will send RHP David Fischer (0-1) to the mound for his first start of the year. He will square off against RHP Jacob Dahlstrand (0-1) for the Spinners. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. All Thursday home games are $1.00 Thursdays, with Labatt or Budweiser drafts, coca cola soft drinks, and hoffman hot dogs all available for just $1.00 each. Tickets available by calling the Doubledays box office at 315-255-2489 or by going online to www.auburndoubledays.com.