AUBURN - The Auburn Doubledays turned back the clock on Friday night. Well, back to 2005.
The “Cardiac Kids” made their season debut at Falcon Park, and the Doubledays won in walk-off fashion, defeating Jamestown 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, third baseman Kelly Sweppenhiser drilled a sacrifice fly to right, bringing home Brian Hall for the game-winning run.
The Doubledays gave no inclination that they were capable of a rally. Through eight innings, the offense managed only six hits and were impatient at the plate. Zach Kalter changed that.
Pinch-hitting for Jonathan Diaz, Kalter worked a walk from Juan Camilo to open the bottom of the ninth. It was only the second Auburn walk of the night and the first batter to really work the count.
Matt Lane reached on an errant throw by the Jammers' shortstop and Kalter advanced to third. Hall then delivered the first Auburn RBI of the night, sending a 1-2 pitch into left field.
As the decibel level skyrocketed with the crowd sensing a rally, Luke Hopkins tied the game with a single that bounded over the first baseman's head.
The Jammers went to their bullpen and brought in hard-throwing right-hander Bradley Stone, who intentionally walked Chris Looze to load the bases.
The Doubledays' Adam Calderone flew out to left but it wasn't deep enough to bring home Hall.
With one out, Sweppenhiser strode to the plate and to the delight of the 1,910 in attendance, delivered a deep sacrifice fly to right. When Hall crossed home plate, he was tackled by his teammates sprinting onto the field from the bench.
The win breaks a two-game losing streak. In Wednesday's loss to Batavia, the pitching staff struggled to find the plate. On Thursday, the Doubledays committed five errors while allowing six unearned runs.
Against the Jammers, it looked like the offense would be their Achilles heel. Starting pitcher Shane Benson was hit hard in the early innings but settled and threw five strong. Benson gave up two runs, one earned, and worked himself out of a number of jams. He struck out Spike McDougall with runners on first and third to end the third inning and got Andrew Saylor to ground into a double play with runners on first and third in the fourth.
Reliever Edward Rodriguez also dazzled on the mound, pitching to the minimum number of batters in three innings. Brian Bull earned the win as he pitched a perfect top of the ninth. The Auburn staff kept the game within reach just long enough for the bats to get hot.
After Auburn's home-opening loss to Batavia, Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg pointed out that his players were pressing offensively. Holmberg said young players tend to be impatient when they first break into the minors and even pointed out last year's division-winning club struggled offensively for a large portion of the season.
The Doubledays' batters finally looked comfortable at the plate in the ninth inning where the hitting was contagious. Sweppenhiser, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a walk, has looked right at home in each of his two games. The rookie third baseman is 4-for-7 on the season with the biggest RBI of his young career.
While defensive struggles plagued Auburn Thursday, the Doubledays flashed some impressive leather Friday. Second baseman Manny Sena turned two double plays and both Diaz and Sweppenhiser solidified the left side of the infield with a combined six putouts.
Hall and Sena each had two hits for Auburn while Jacob Blackwell and Justin Webb were the only multi-hitters for the Jammers.
The Doubledays host Jamestown Saturday in the second of a three-game series.
The Doubledays gave no inclination that they were capable of a rally. Through eight innings, the offense managed only six hits and were impatient at the plate. Zach Kalter changed that.
Pinch-hitting for Jonathan Diaz, Kalter worked a walk from Juan Camilo to open the bottom of the ninth. It was only the second Auburn walk of the night and the first batter to really work the count.
Matt Lane reached on an errant throw by the Jammers' shortstop and Kalter advanced to third. Hall then delivered the first Auburn RBI of the night, sending a 1-2 pitch into left field.
As the decibel level skyrocketed with the crowd sensing a rally, Luke Hopkins tied the game with a single that bounded over the first baseman's head.
The Jammers went to their bullpen and brought in hard-throwing right-hander Bradley Stone, who intentionally walked Chris Looze to load the bases.
The Doubledays' Adam Calderone flew out to left but it wasn't deep enough to bring home Hall.
With one out, Sweppenhiser strode to the plate and to the delight of the 1,910 in attendance, delivered a deep sacrifice fly to right. When Hall crossed home plate, he was tackled by his teammates sprinting onto the field from the bench.
The win breaks a two-game losing streak. In Wednesday's loss to Batavia, the pitching staff struggled to find the plate. On Thursday, the Doubledays committed five errors while allowing six unearned runs.
Against the Jammers, it looked like the offense would be their Achilles heel. Starting pitcher Shane Benson was hit hard in the early innings but settled and threw five strong. Benson gave up two runs, one earned, and worked himself out of a number of jams. He struck out Spike McDougall with runners on first and third to end the third inning and got Andrew Saylor to ground into a double play with runners on first and third in the fourth.
Reliever Edward Rodriguez also dazzled on the mound, pitching to the minimum number of batters in three innings. Brian Bull earned the win as he pitched a perfect top of the ninth. The Auburn staff kept the game within reach just long enough for the bats to get hot.
After Auburn's home-opening loss to Batavia, Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg pointed out that his players were pressing offensively. Holmberg said young players tend to be impatient when they first break into the minors and even pointed out last year's division-winning club struggled offensively for a large portion of the season.
The Doubledays' batters finally looked comfortable at the plate in the ninth inning where the hitting was contagious. Sweppenhiser, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a walk, has looked right at home in each of his two games. The rookie third baseman is 4-for-7 on the season with the biggest RBI of his young career.
While defensive struggles plagued Auburn Thursday, the Doubledays flashed some impressive leather Friday. Second baseman Manny Sena turned two double plays and both Diaz and Sweppenhiser solidified the left side of the infield with a combined six putouts.
Hall and Sena each had two hits for Auburn while Jacob Blackwell and Justin Webb were the only multi-hitters for the Jammers.
The Doubledays host Jamestown Saturday in the second of a three-game series.
