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Doubledays drop 2nd in a row to 1st place Mahoning Valley

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The Doubledays couldn’t ask for a better start against the Scrappers with a 4-run inning – highlighted by a Jamori Blash three-run home run – gave Auburn a commanding lead to start off the contest and hinted at big things to come in the game from the Doubledays bats.

But Auburn quickly learned: It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.

The Doubledays’ lead quickly disappeared as the game carried on, with Mahoning Valley tying the contest in the fifth and taking the lead in sixth. Despite a ninth inning rally, the Scrappers (19-11) won, 7-6, as Auburn’s (16-14) bats were unable to find that same stroke from the beginning of the contest.

Draper quickly recomposed himself after being the victim of three unearned runs an inning earlier. He followed up his sloppy first innings with four solid innings of shutout baseball – allowing just two more hits while striking out three.

Draper, however, wasn’t the only starter putting on a show. Carson Teel put on a clinic for Auburn, going three perfect innings and striking in what was easily his best performance of his young professional career.

But Chandler Day, his replacement on the mound, was not so lucky. Day was knocked around in his first outing in a week and was charged for seven earned runs on seven hits, starting with a solo run in the 4th. Back-to-back wild pitches brought in the Scrappers first run in the game, and two straight three-run innings put Mahoning Valley comfortably ahead of Auburn, 7-4.

The Doubledays tacked on a solo run in the sixth inning and went on a convincing comeback run in the ninth started by Carson Shaddy. Shaddy knocked a leadoff double, and Telmito Agustin reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corner with nobody out.

Despite being the Doubledays’ hottest hitter in July, Israel Pineda couldn’t collect a hit but did manage to drive in a run by grounding into a force out. Pablo O’Connor kept the rally going with a single, but subsequent strikeouts ended the Auburn rally and the game.

By Chris Valentino Tril

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