After kicking things off uncharacteristically early at 1:05 PM, the Doubledays have the rest of their Saturday afternoons to relax following an exciting 10-5 win against the Muckdogs in Batavia. The Doubledays are a full two games ahead of the Brooklyn Cyclones in the wild card and only one game back of Mahoning Valley in the division. (Click here for the NY-Penn League Standings)
In addition to their explosive offense, the Doubledays’ win was also largely due to the fantastic pitching of Francys Peguero – who saved his best start of the regular season for last. “El Pegui” tossed a gem against the Muckdogs, allowing just one hit over five frames while striking out three. It was Peguero’s best start since July 1 when he threw a two-hitter against the Crosscutters. Francys was also just named Pitcher of the Year for the Doubledays at the end of the year awards ceremony held before Thursday’s game.
The only blemish on Peguero’s final line was that the one hit he allowed was a home run in the second inning. The dinger unsurprisingly came off the bat of Sean Reynolds, who leads the New York Penn League in home runs. His 17th home run of the season further separated himself from runner-up Chris Betts of Hudson Valley, who has nine.
While Batavia starter Jordan Holloway was able to have himself a perfect three inning start, the Doubledays were able to inflict damage on his replacement on the mound, Alberto Guerrero. Cole Daily worked a full-count walk to lead off the fourth inning, and a Pablo O’Connor single – with some help from a fielding error – brought him across to tie the game. Wilmer Perez then doubled him in to take the lead.
The Doubledays made it a 2-run lead in the sixth inning but the Muckdogs quickly shrunk Auburn’s lead back to one after delivering a run of their own in the seventh. The game, however, went south from there for Batavia after sending C.J. Carter to the mound in the ninth. Rather than keeping the ballgame close, Carter allowed six earned runs while recording just two outs in the inning before being replaced by Tyler Mitzel.
Mitzel allowed both inherited runners to score while also getting charged for a run himself before ending the inning. Of the seven runs scored in the inning, three of them came courtesy of Cole Daily’s first home professional home run.
The Doubledays take their last series opener of the regular season, 10-5, against the Muckdogs! pic.twitter.com/P15a1Q0Zv7
— Auburn Doubledays (@Doubledays) September 1, 2018
Angel Guillen took over the reigns for Peguero to start the 6th and closed out the final four frames to earn his first save of the season despite allowing four runs in the ninth (1 earned), the Muckdogs ultimately could not overcome their deficit to drop the first game of the series.
The Doubledays will be back in action Sunday for another matinee matchup against the Muckdogs at 1:05 PM. Listen LIVE on FingerLakes1.com Radio.
By Chris Valentino Tril
