AUBURN - A 2-5 start is probably not what Auburn Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg envisioned prior to the 2005 season. Holmberg has been associated with nothing but winning since coming to Auburn three years ago, guiding the Doubledays to three straight Pinckney Division titles and compiling a record of 153-71.

Despite his penchant for success, Monday night's 8-4 loss to the Jamestown Jammers, in addition to the team's slow start, doesn't appear to worry the veteran skipper.

"There's no reason for tremendous alarm," Holmberg said. "We're only a big hit away from having a big inning. A double or triple here or there could really change these games."

If the Doubledays were waiting for a break, they bypassed one against the Jammers at Falcon Park. Auburn had at least one player on base every inning, and Jamestown struggled in the field, recording five errors.

"We left a lot of runners on base and two guys were thrown out at the plate," Holmberg said. "It's the ability to manufacture runs that we are lacking."

Early on, Auburn starting pitcher Kristian Bell looked poised for a strong start. He surrendered a lead-off home run to Jammers' designated hitter Mark Aranda in the second inning but went on to strike out the side.

The Doubledays and the Jammers traded unearned runs in the third, but it was in the fourth that Jamestown began to take control of the game.

"I felt okay on the mound, I just wasn't in command of my fastball," Bell said. "As a result I had to throw a lot of off-speed pitches and they were just sitting on them."

After striking out six of the first 12 batters of the game, Bell began to struggle. He gave up four consecutive singles followed by a sacrifice fly which gave the Jammers a 4-1 lead.

"As a starter I need to do a lot better for myself," Bell said. "I just didn't get it done today."

Doubledays reliever Sean Stidfole didn't fair much better than Bell, giving up three consecutive hits in the fifth inning and allowing two more runs.

Following two more Jamestown runs in the top of the seventh, Auburn tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the inning.

Hot-hitting center fielder Ryan Patterson stepped to the plate following a lead-off double by Jermy Acey.

Patterson, having already recorded three hits in the game, smoked a single to right field, but Acey was gunned out at the plate by Jamestown's Kris Harvey.

It was the second time of the night that Acey was thrown out at home.

Brian Bormaster had a sacrifice fly in the seventh and an RBI single in the ninth to provide Auburn with its final two runs.

Following the loss, Holmberg made it clear that he intended to spread the lineup out in future games. He also understands that his team's failure to drive in baserunners - they left 12 runners stranded Monday - may be a result of an overagressive attitude at the plate.

"There may be a little bit of pressure to feel like they have to do more," Holmberg said. "They need to learn the old saying that less is more. Maybe they need to try less mentally and physically."

Holmberg also acknowledged that the pitching has to improve. Pitching is what keeps his team in ball games.

Bell, who falls to 0-2 following the loss, realizes the difficult task it can be for any manager to gauge his staff this early in the season.

"[Holmberg] has to get to know the pitchers," Bell said. "He has to know their good and bad spots, and that takes time."

Mike Bille got the win in relief for the Jammers while Aranda and Harvey both went 3-for-5 at the plate.

Patterson finished 4-for-5, but no other Auburn player had more than one hit.