Swinging some scorching lumber

The Auburn bats are scorching hot. Through ten games, the Doubledays are hitting .267 as a team, good for second best in the New York-Penn League.

Auburn isn't among the league leaders in the long ball, but it is first in slugging percentage, second in on-base percentage and first in triples. The Doubledays have also struck out less than every team in the league except Jamestown.

The pitching staff is also doing their part. A 1.99 ERA ranks Auburn second best in the NY-P League and the staff has allowed only one home run as of Friday.

Doubledays among league's best

Runs have come in bunches for the Doubledays this season and most often, they've done most of their scoring late in games.

After trailing 2-0 the entire game to Jamestown on June 23, Auburn's bats came alive and three runners crossed home in the bottom of the ninth to give the Doubledays a walk-off victory.

On Thursday, Auburn plated seven runs in the top of the ninth against Jamestown, good enough for a 10-0 shutout. On Friday, the Doubledays proved once again that hitting is contagious, scoring four runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to defeat Jamestown after trailing 1-0 for a majority of the game.

The Doubledays' pitching staff deserves much of the credit for the late-inning rallies. The pitchers have kept the games within reach, allowing the offense some time to build momentum and post some runs.

During the Doubledays' six-game road trip, the pitching staff has a 1.25 ERA.

Comings and goings

Two of the Doubledays' best arms are already on the out. New York-Penn League pitcher of the week Casey McKenzie and reliever Edward Rodriguez were promoted to Class-A Lansing this week, along with pitcher Randy Dicken and catcher Al Quintana.

McKenzie, who missed the 2005 season after shoulder surgery, was 1-0 in two starts in Auburn with a 1.64 ERA.

Coming up at

Falcon Park

The Doubledays return home today to begin a three-game set against division foe Mahoning Valley. Monday's game against the Scrapper's will be the first day game of the season at Falcon Park, with a 1:05 p.m. start.

For those who enjoyed last year's mullet night, this Monday there will be a mustache contest at the game as a part of Abner's birthday celebration.

The Bulkley Report

Aaron Bulkley is batting .143 in four games with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League.

The Port Byron native is 1-for-7 with two runs, two walks and five strikeouts. He sports a .333 on-base percentage.

-The Citizen staff report