Massive Two-Out Rally Spurs Auburn to Victory

AUBURN, NY -- The Auburn Doubledays, Short Season Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds, Short Season Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, 8-7 on Wednesday night. Auburn won the first and third games in the three-game series.
Aberdeen (12-9) struck first with two runs in the first and two more runs in the second. Jean Carrillo drove in Kirvin Moesquit and T.J. Nichting with a two-run double in the first, while Ben Breazeale knocked in two more with a two-RBI single in the second. Aberdeen scored first in every game in the series.
Auburn (9-14) mounted a two-out rally for the ages after Ryan Merrill and Randy Encarnacion grounded out to start the third inning. Six singles, two walks, and a hit by pitch combined to bring home seven Auburn runs, the most runs the Doubledays have scored in an inning this season. Jonathan Pryor, Andres Martinez, Randy Encarnacion knocked in two runs with their singles in the later stages of the third inning. Auburn brought 12 men to the plate in the third inning.
Aberdeen scored the next two runs in the game, but Auburn picked up an insurance run in the seventh to make it 8-6. Nic Perkins doubled to lead off the inning, Jake Scudder moved him to third with a single into short rightfield, and after Branden Boggetto popped out, Jonthan Pryor brought home Perkins with a fielder's choice. Pryor set a new career high with 3 RBI on Thursday.
Aberdeen scored one more run in the top of the eighth to cut the lead to 8-7, but Jake Barnett pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his second save of the season. Barnett has not allowed an earned run in 12 innings of work this season. Jeremy McKinney picked up the in the win in relief for the Doubledays, allowing one run on three hits in 2.2 innings. Hector Gaunce took the loss for the IronBirds; the righty started the game for Aberdeen and allowed six earned runs on four hits in 2.2 innings.
Auburn hits the road for a weekend series at the Vermont Lake Monsters starting Friday night at 7:05. Brigham Hill makes his first start for the Doubledays, while the Lake Monsters counter with Argenis Blanco.