I had a chance to make my way down to Auburn Saturday night to see the Doubledays in action against the Indians affiliate, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park. It was a pretty sloppy game for the home team thanks to a lack of clutch hitting and defence.
Auburn left-hander Sam Strickland, the Jays 25th round pick from Texas A&M Kingsville in 2010.
Top 1st - Sam Strickland, induced a pair of ground balls to start the game but they were not converted into outs. The leadoff man reached on an infield single that Oliver Dominguez could not barehand successfully at second. Then Dominguez booted the next ground ball to come his way to put men at first and second. Strickland got the next hitter to fly out but catcher Carlos Perez compounded matters with an errant pickoff throw at second to allow the two runners to move up 90 feet. A walk and a plunked batter later made it 1-0 Mahoning Valley. Strickland got the next man on a called strike three but a bloop single to center just in front of Markus Brisker produced two runs to make it 3-0 for the Scrappers. The tall southpaw deserved a better fate in that inning.
Auburn second baseman Oliver Dominguez singles in the first inning for the D-Days first hit of the game.
Bottom 1st - Dominguez tried to start a rally with a one-out single to center in the Doubledays first but was promptly erased on a 4-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Perez.
Top 2nd - Strickland didn't waste any time in the top of the second by retiring all three men he faced on groundballs to second, the mound and to short.
Auburn first baseman Lance Durham, son of Leon, stands at second base after a one-out double in the second inning.
Bottom 2nd - Lance "Baby Bull" Durham doubled to right after the right field dove way too early for the ball. A faster runner might have tried to stretch that into a triple. That was too bad because Marcus Knecht lined out hard to center and Gustavo Pierre (pronounced P-YAY!) popped out to short.
Top 3rd - Strickland had another three up, three down frame by handling a comebacker and a liner with a fly ball in between.
Auburn right fielder Steve McQuail retreats to first after a single to lead off the third.
Bottom 3rd - Steve McQuail and Yeico Aponte each hit singles to set the table for Brisker at the top of the order. After showing bunt on the first pitch, Brisker wound up striking out. Dominguez grounded to second to advance the two runners but Perez flied out to kill the rally. Make that 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position for the D-Days.
Top 4th - It was another clean inning for Strickland as he struck out two and sandwiched a ground out in between.
Bottom 4th - Durham reached on an error at short but the D-Days could not bring him around the other 270 feet.
Top 5th - Strickland's streak of 12 consecutive hitters retired came to an end after a one-out single but that was erased when Perez threw out the runner trying to steal second to end the inning.
Bottom 5th - After having no luck against Owen "Mountain" Dew, the Scrappers brought Casey "& The Sunshine Band, Not Gloria" Gaynor out to the hill. Just like the bottom of the third, McQuail and Aponte set the table with back to back singles with Aponte singling back to the mound. Also just like the bottom of the third, Brisker showed bunt on the first pitch and could not advance the runners as he flied out to right. Dominguez reached on a fielder's choice that forced Aponte at second and Perez was caught looking at strike three. That made Auburn 0-for-8 with RISP.
Top 6th - The Scrappers salted this one away here with a five-run frame against reliever Zach Outman. He gave up five runs on four hits and two walks and one run came on one of two passed balls by Perez. Outman had two K's also threw a wild pitch before Shawn Griffith ended the inning with a groundout but not before issuing a walk.
Auburn designated hitter Marcus Knecht at the plate. The former Oshawa Dodger would later single during the sixth inning. The Toronto native was the team's third round pick in this year's draft.
Bottom 6th - The first two men were retired but Knecht "connected" for a single to center and Pierre finally gave the 965 fans in attendance something to cheer about by smoking a double to center to score the Toronto native from first. McQuail could not keep the inning going as he grounded out to short.
Knecht is congratulated by McQuail after crossing the plate with Auburn's lone run of the game.
Auburn shortstop Gustavo Pierre stands at second after his double cashed in Knecht.
Top 7th - Griffith was burned for two runs on three hits while a throwing error from McQuail in right allowing a run to score. The D-Days brought in Matt Nuzzo to play third for Randy Schwartz, Matt Johnson replaced Pierre (as punishment for driving in a run?) and Joe Bowen replaced Perez behind the plate, "HOLY MACKINAW!"
Bottom 7th - Brisker got aboard on an infield single to short. He'd only get as far as second after he advanced on a groundout to the mound.
Top 8th - Jesse Hernandez relieved Griffin and retired the first two men he faced. However, two singles, a Bowen passed ball and a double led to two more scrappy runs for the visitors.
Bottom 8th - Nuzzo had an infield single to third and Knecht singled him to second by punching one through to center against reliever James Ehlert. They would go no further.
Top 9th - Hernandez allowed three singles, one of the infield variety, to load up the bases. However, he rallied from a 2-0 count to the Taco Bell K-Man, Daniel DeGeorge, and struck him out!! Hernandez then got a ground out to second to shutout the Scrappers.
Bottom 9th - No amazing 12 run comeback here. Two K's and a lineout to short to mercifully end the game.
Random Notes - Weird Al Yankovic's "Canadian Idiot" blared over the speakers before the third inning with Canadians Randy Schwartz, a former Barrie Baycat, and Marcus Knecht due up to bat. Maybe it was a way to get the team fired up. It didn't work!........Matthew Nuzzo nearly got impaled as he chased a foul ball down the left field line and smacked right into the fence. He escaped serious injury on the play........Sam Strickland's fastest pitch was 85 miles per hour according to the P.A. announcer as they announce the fastest pitch of the game for both sides. The radar gun on the scoreboard worked intermittently and only flashes the speed of the pitch for 0.2 seconds. Owen Dew's fastest pitch for Mahoning Valley was 94 MPH.....The fans actually gave Zach Outman a warm round of applause despite giving up five runs in 2/3 of an inning........The 965 fans left the park in a good mood after getting a free taco thanks to Jesse Hernandez's strikeout of Daniel DeGeorge, the Taco Bell "K" Man of the Game....Three errors, three passed balls and 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position - that was Auburn's ugly line for the evening.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Steve McQuail
2. Marcus Knecht
1. Sam Strickland
Honourable Mentions - Yeico Aponte, Gustavo Pierre, Lance Durham.
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