With a rare four-game sweep under their belts, the Doubledays appear to be back in the same form they were early in the season when they won nine straight in late June/early July. Auburn defeated the Spikes 12-5 Saturday night in State College, their first sweep since early July. This time it was thanks to yet another all-around effort from the pitching staff, some help from a veteran presence in the two-hole, and a five-spot in the top of the ninth inning.
Moises Sierra – rehabbing from Triple-A Syracuse – continues to be a shot in the arm for the Doubledays’ lineup after first joining the team on August 1. The former big leaguer is now hitting an even .500 (7-for-14) after his three-hit performance Saturday night against the Spikes. He drove in three of the Doubledays’ seven runs, all on singles.
Tyler Cropley and Carson Shaddy combined to help provide three runs in the sixth inning, starting with a two-out single by center fielder Ricardo Mendez. Sloppiness by the Spikes’ defense – a missed catch on first baseman Brady Whalen and a passed ball by catcher Cameron Knight – put Mendez on third, and an error on the shortstop brought him home while allowing Cropley to reach first base safely. After a Cole Daily double put Cropley on third, a solid single by Shaddy brought him home for Auburn’s fifth run of the contest.
Jamori Blash, the Spikes’ Strikeout Player of the Game, also had a big night after hitting a booming double off the left field wall in the seventh inning to bring in a run. Blash disappointed the Spikes faithful at Lubrano Park, by not striking out and sending everyone home without a free Big Mac, but also keeping his hot week going strong.
Even though the Doubledays amassed 10 of their 12 runs late, Francys Peguero was the pitcher of record when Auburn took the lead in the 6th inning and was able to secure his third win of the season. He went five strong innings and allowed three runs – all in the third inning. Yonathan Ramirez had his second straight nice outing by going three strong innings of one-run ball, and David Smith shut the door in the ninth and allowed just one run.
That run in the ninth ended up meaning very little in the grand scheme of the game, given that the Doubledays padded on five insurance runs in the top of the inning. A fielder’s choice, two doubles and a triple gave Auburn an even dozen runs on the night to ensure that the team would end their short road trip on a winning note.
🎧 HIGHLIGHTS 🎧
5️⃣ for #ShaddyLight 🐗
4️⃣ for Cole ☘️
3️⃣ for Kyle 🐎
3️⃣ for Moises ⛰
1️⃣ for every hitter in the lineup2️⃣1️⃣ A new single-game high in the NYPL this year, and a four-game sweep complete ✅https://t.co/BY0gIwSlQ4
— Auburn Doubledays (@Doubledays) August 5, 2018
The Doubledays will be back in action Sunday at 2 PM when they take on Williamsport at Falcon Park. Listen LIVE on FL1 Radio.
By Chris Valentino Tril
