AUBURN - Some time off couldn't have come at a better time for the reeling Auburn Doubledays, who dropped their last three games prior to Monday and Tuesday's All-Star break. Auburn manager, Dennis Holmberg, hoped that the lay-off would help rejuvenate his ballclub.

Despite the well-rested bench and bullpen, the Doubledays came out flat in all aspects as they were pounded by the Batavia Muckdogs 10-0, Wednesday night at Falcon Park. Auburn's lead in the Pinckney Division drops to three games with Mahoning Valley's victory over Jamestown.

Auburn got off to a very rocky start as Eric Fowler (4-2), struggled early and allowed four runs in just an inning of work. Fowler walked four batters in the first and another in the second as his lack of control got him yanked before even recording an out in the second inning.

"Fowler was disappointing," Holmberg said. "He's struggled in his past few starts; he just hasn't shown up. He's going to have to make some adjustments because he's going to be making some more big starts for us down the stretch."

Muckdogs' starter, Scott Mitchinson (3-6), not only outdueled Fowler, he completely shut down the Doubledays' offense. Mitchinson pitched a complete game, allowing only two hits and striking out nine. Mitchinson was flawless through most of the night as he had a perfect game through 5 1-3 innings.

"As much as they get nine innings (from their starter), we struggle to get one," Holmberg said. "We expect our starters to give us five or six good innings and keep us in the game. We have a well-rested bullpen, thank goodness, but if we have another start like this, we're going to have a very tired bullpen."

The Doubledays' first threat of the game came in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Bell recorded Auburn's first hit with a double to right. Sean Shoffit then singled and Marshall Bernhard loaded the bases on a catcher's interference call.

Mitchinson pitched himself out of the jam though, getting the usually dangerous, Cory Patton, to pop-out to shortstop.

"Their pitcher really came out tonight and shut us down," Bell said. "We should have picked up the pitchers tonight. We expect them to pick up the offense in some games, we didn't get the job done. It was just one of those nights."

Bell admits that Batavia's early charge may have taken some air out of the Doubledays' bats.

"It shouldn't have had an effect, but I think it might have," Bell said. "It's no excuse."

Mitchinson may have pitched a gem, but the Doubledays looked sluggish at the plate. Holmberg was very discouraged with his team and said they should have come off a two-day break with the same intensity that the Muckdogs showed.

"They had the same number of days off as we did," Holmberg said. "I wasn't real happy with the offense, I wasn't real happy with the pitching. Guys just didn't show up tonight to play."

The Doubledays' nine-game win streak a few weeks ago is a distant memory now. The bats are cold and the pitchers are struggling. With Auburn in the midst of a playoff run, Holmberg says this isn't the time of the season to lose momentum.

"We had momentum a few weeks ago and now Batavia does," he said. "They are playing great, they just swept Mahoning Valley and now they beat us. That's how quickly momentum shifts. It's not a good time (for the losing streak). It's going to come down to the last games of the season. Ideally, I would like to see us with a four-game lead heading into the last week, but with the way we're playing now, who knows."