Doubledays break out against Vermont
The Doubledays' 16-1 win over Vermont on July 25 not only helped them nudge their way further up the ranks in the Pinckney division, it was statistically the best game they played all season.
The victory contained the most runs scored by the Doubledays in any game this year. They topped their previous high, set five days earlier in a 11-1 win over Tri-City.
Not only was it their biggest win on the road, but the 15-run win was the largest margin of victory of the season. They had previously beat two teams by 10-runs at home: Jamestown on June 29 (10-0) and the mentioned Tri-City game on July 20.
Auburn also hit the most extra base hits in any game thus far. The 22 overall hits by Doubledays batters was the most in any game this season, but they had nine doubles, two triples and a Matt Lane home run.
And while Wilfreddy Aguirre got the win, Javier Nieves was on the mound for the sixth and seventh innings.
July hot streaks
Auburn's July record (11-15) is less-than impressive but some particular Doubledays have stepped up their game in the season's second month. Starter Shane Benson is second in the New York-Penn League with three wins in July. In the month, Benson is 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA and 20 strikeouts in five starts.
Catcher Matt Lane had an 11-game home hit streak end on Sunday. During the streak, Lane batted .293 with 12 hits.
Ben Zeskind had a hit streak of his own, but his occurred away from the friendly confines of Falcon Park. Zeskind currently has a ten-game road hit streak where he's batting .400 with 14 hits and a .462 on-base percentage.
Odds and ends
The Doubledays have greater production numbers against right-handed pitchers than left-handed.
The Auburn offense is hitting .255 against righties and .216 against lefties. The Doubledays have also hit nine of their 11 homers against righties. Despite being a left-handed batter, Jonathan Baksh has a higher average against lefties, as do switch-hitters Manny Sena and Ben Zeskind.
Righties Brian Hall and Matt Liuzza are the only other Doubledays who hit better against south paws.
There's no tying in baseball
For some reason, the Doubledays have fared poorly after tying the game in the later innings. Auburn is a combined 2-6 when the score is tied in the fifth, sixth, seventh or eight inning. The Doubledays are also 1-2 in extra-inning games.
In fact, Auburn doesn't play well in close games to begin with. The Doubledays are 3-7 in one-run games and usually win in convincing fashion.
They have proven a late-inning rally is always possible, as Auburn is one of only five teams in the league to post a come-from-behind win when trailing after eight innings.
The Bulkley Report
Aaron Bulkley has now played in seven games since returning from a knee injury. The Tri-City ValleyCats are working the Port Byron native back into the lineup slowly but surely. After being the designated hitter for his first few games back, Bulkley has returned to the outfield.
On the season, Bulkley is batting .182 with four hits in 22 at-bats.
-The Citizen staff report
The victory contained the most runs scored by the Doubledays in any game this year. They topped their previous high, set five days earlier in a 11-1 win over Tri-City.
Not only was it their biggest win on the road, but the 15-run win was the largest margin of victory of the season. They had previously beat two teams by 10-runs at home: Jamestown on June 29 (10-0) and the mentioned Tri-City game on July 20.
Auburn also hit the most extra base hits in any game thus far. The 22 overall hits by Doubledays batters was the most in any game this season, but they had nine doubles, two triples and a Matt Lane home run.
And while Wilfreddy Aguirre got the win, Javier Nieves was on the mound for the sixth and seventh innings.
July hot streaks
Auburn's July record (11-15) is less-than impressive but some particular Doubledays have stepped up their game in the season's second month. Starter Shane Benson is second in the New York-Penn League with three wins in July. In the month, Benson is 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA and 20 strikeouts in five starts.
Catcher Matt Lane had an 11-game home hit streak end on Sunday. During the streak, Lane batted .293 with 12 hits.
Ben Zeskind had a hit streak of his own, but his occurred away from the friendly confines of Falcon Park. Zeskind currently has a ten-game road hit streak where he's batting .400 with 14 hits and a .462 on-base percentage.
Odds and ends
The Doubledays have greater production numbers against right-handed pitchers than left-handed.
The Auburn offense is hitting .255 against righties and .216 against lefties. The Doubledays have also hit nine of their 11 homers against righties. Despite being a left-handed batter, Jonathan Baksh has a higher average against lefties, as do switch-hitters Manny Sena and Ben Zeskind.
Righties Brian Hall and Matt Liuzza are the only other Doubledays who hit better against south paws.
There's no tying in baseball
For some reason, the Doubledays have fared poorly after tying the game in the later innings. Auburn is a combined 2-6 when the score is tied in the fifth, sixth, seventh or eight inning. The Doubledays are also 1-2 in extra-inning games.
In fact, Auburn doesn't play well in close games to begin with. The Doubledays are 3-7 in one-run games and usually win in convincing fashion.
They have proven a late-inning rally is always possible, as Auburn is one of only five teams in the league to post a come-from-behind win when trailing after eight innings.
The Bulkley Report
Aaron Bulkley has now played in seven games since returning from a knee injury. The Tri-City ValleyCats are working the Port Byron native back into the lineup slowly but surely. After being the designated hitter for his first few games back, Bulkley has returned to the outfield.
On the season, Bulkley is batting .182 with four hits in 22 at-bats.
-The Citizen staff report
The Citizens' Say
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