AUBURN - It wasn't pretty, but the Auburn Doubledays' 5-2 win over Tri-City on Wednesday might have been the biggest victory of their season so far.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
Tri-City's starting pitcher Shane Wolf, of Freeville, winds up for the pitch against the Doubledays during Wednesday's game.
Tri-City's starting pitcher Shane Wolf, of Freeville, winds up for the pitch against the Doubledays during Wednesday's game.
The Doubledays took their second straight game over the ValleyCats at Falcon Park despite a blown lead, a few rough pitching performances and a bases loaded situation in the ninth that could have cost them the game - and some important ground in a tight Pinckney Division.
Instead, Auburn persevered by scoring three runs in the eighth and then saw Justin Cryer strike out one of the most dangerous hitters in the New York-Penn League to seal the win.
“This was a thrilla in manilla,” Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg said.
Freeville native and former Ithaca College player Shane Wolf stole the show early on the mound for the ValleyCats. Wolf retired Doubledays batters in order in the first four innings, amid five strikeouts, but the first batter he faced in the fifth inning ensured that he wouldn't be walking away with a win.
After a night off, Adam Amar returned to Auburn's lineup with a bang, blasting his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall to break the 0-0 tie.
Mark Sobolewski followed with a single and eventually scored the second run of the inning on a two out RBI single by Bryan Kervin.
The Doubledays seemed poised to walk off the field with their second shutout victory in a row until two pitchers gave up as many runs in the eighth.
Jason Roenicke began the inning on the hill, but left after Ronald Ramirez reached second on the game's only error as Mike McDade bobbled the ball at first base.
Chuck Huggins replaced Roenicke, but only for two batters and only one out. Matt Daly then came into the game in relief, but promptly gave up an RBI single to Phil Disher, scoring Ramirez.
With Jason Castro batting, Daly threw a wild pitch to score Diaz.
Two ground outs finished the inning, but the damage had been done.
The eighth inning wasted a great performance by Doubledays' starter Castillo Perez, who had earned the win until then. Perez lasted six innings, walking two and allowing two hits, but striking out seven.
“This was by far his best performance so far this year,” Holmberg said of Perez. “His six innings allowed us to score a couple of runs that we needed to score. Just outstanding.”
Offensively, the Doubledays picked up just six hits, but made all six count as nearly every player that belted one came around to score. Auburn pulled out a storybook rally, with two outs late in bottom of the eighth. Fresh off a scary situation where a ball bounced off the ground and hit him in the throat behind the plate, catcher Karim Turkamani got away with an infield single and then made it to second on a David Miller passed ball. Carlos Vasquez came in to pinch run before Chris Demons sauntered to first on a bases loaded walk.
For the second night in a row, Chris Hopkins came up clutch, with an RBI single to right field that scored Vasquez. It would have been enough to get the Doubledays the win, but Mike McDade took it a step further with his own single that scored Hopkins. That was after Miller balked to send Demons home and ValleyCats' manager Pete Rancont was thrown out of the game for arguing the call.
Tri-City wasn't about to go down easy, though. A David Flores walk and an Andy Simunic single in the ninth had Holmberg replace Daly with Cryer, who earned his third save of the year. Cryer fanned Chris Jackson looking for the innings' first out. JB Shuck then proceeded to hit a liner right off of Cryer's bare left hand, though he managed to throw out Simunic at second.
“I'm fine, I was just trying to not let the ball hit me in the stomach,” Cryer said of the swelling on his non-throwing hand.
For some added drama, Cryer walked Diaz to load the bases. All he had to do was get out Disher, who had three home runs, 18 hits and 21 RBIs with runners in scoring position coming into the game. He didn't get the chance to get one more though, as Cryer sat him down looking on four throws to end the game.
“It was kind of nerve wracking, but it comes with the job,” Cryer said. “Daly's been pitching great all season, he just got into a little funk and that happens when you're a reliever like me and him. You're going to get thrown into bad situations, but all you can do is throw strikes. I struggled to find it at first, but I felt like I battled back enough to be able to compete.”
It wasn't the first time Cryer has faced the dangerous Disher.
“He's from my conference in college, so I've seen him before,” he said. “I knew what he was looking for, but he's been hitting balls hard, tearing up the league. I just made a couple of quality pitches and that helped me out by keeping him off balance. Good things happen when you throw strikes. I'd love to face him whenever, it's one of those things where if I get ahead, it's the pitchers count, but if he got ahead, it's where good hitters turn into great hitters.”
With the win, the Doubledays (19-15) remain four games behind first-place Jamestown, but they're in a three way tie with Williamsport and Batavia. They look to sweep Tri-City (13-22) and pick up some ground with a win today.
Notes: Daly earned his first win of the season, while Miller suffered his second loss. ... The Doubledays did not have one multiple hitter or baserunner in the win. McDade was the only hitter to not score. ... Disher earned two of the ValleyCats six hits. ... Auburn is now 2-2 in its longest home stand of the season. ... All three Tri-City pitchers threw at least one strikeout for 10 total. The five throwers for the Doubledays also fanned 10.
One wish granted
Sugarman Law Firm hosted the second of three Make-A-Wish on Wednesday. Eight-year-old Sammy Dimatto threw out the first pitch and got to watch an exciting game, with VIP treatment as part of his day. Dimatto, who's wish is to see the New York Yankees play in August, threw out a perfect first pitch to Doubledays' pitcher Justin Cryer. Dimatto recently underwent a liver transplant.
D-days Today
Record: 19-15
Standings:
Second place
Streak: 2 wins
Next: vs. Tri-City, 7 p.m.
Instead, Auburn persevered by scoring three runs in the eighth and then saw Justin Cryer strike out one of the most dangerous hitters in the New York-Penn League to seal the win.
“This was a thrilla in manilla,” Doubledays manager Dennis Holmberg said.
Freeville native and former Ithaca College player Shane Wolf stole the show early on the mound for the ValleyCats. Wolf retired Doubledays batters in order in the first four innings, amid five strikeouts, but the first batter he faced in the fifth inning ensured that he wouldn't be walking away with a win.
After a night off, Adam Amar returned to Auburn's lineup with a bang, blasting his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall to break the 0-0 tie.
Mark Sobolewski followed with a single and eventually scored the second run of the inning on a two out RBI single by Bryan Kervin.
The Doubledays seemed poised to walk off the field with their second shutout victory in a row until two pitchers gave up as many runs in the eighth.
Jason Roenicke began the inning on the hill, but left after Ronald Ramirez reached second on the game's only error as Mike McDade bobbled the ball at first base.
Chuck Huggins replaced Roenicke, but only for two batters and only one out. Matt Daly then came into the game in relief, but promptly gave up an RBI single to Phil Disher, scoring Ramirez.
With Jason Castro batting, Daly threw a wild pitch to score Diaz.
Two ground outs finished the inning, but the damage had been done.
The eighth inning wasted a great performance by Doubledays' starter Castillo Perez, who had earned the win until then. Perez lasted six innings, walking two and allowing two hits, but striking out seven.
“This was by far his best performance so far this year,” Holmberg said of Perez. “His six innings allowed us to score a couple of runs that we needed to score. Just outstanding.”
Offensively, the Doubledays picked up just six hits, but made all six count as nearly every player that belted one came around to score. Auburn pulled out a storybook rally, with two outs late in bottom of the eighth. Fresh off a scary situation where a ball bounced off the ground and hit him in the throat behind the plate, catcher Karim Turkamani got away with an infield single and then made it to second on a David Miller passed ball. Carlos Vasquez came in to pinch run before Chris Demons sauntered to first on a bases loaded walk.
For the second night in a row, Chris Hopkins came up clutch, with an RBI single to right field that scored Vasquez. It would have been enough to get the Doubledays the win, but Mike McDade took it a step further with his own single that scored Hopkins. That was after Miller balked to send Demons home and ValleyCats' manager Pete Rancont was thrown out of the game for arguing the call.
Tri-City wasn't about to go down easy, though. A David Flores walk and an Andy Simunic single in the ninth had Holmberg replace Daly with Cryer, who earned his third save of the year. Cryer fanned Chris Jackson looking for the innings' first out. JB Shuck then proceeded to hit a liner right off of Cryer's bare left hand, though he managed to throw out Simunic at second.
“I'm fine, I was just trying to not let the ball hit me in the stomach,” Cryer said of the swelling on his non-throwing hand.
For some added drama, Cryer walked Diaz to load the bases. All he had to do was get out Disher, who had three home runs, 18 hits and 21 RBIs with runners in scoring position coming into the game. He didn't get the chance to get one more though, as Cryer sat him down looking on four throws to end the game.
“It was kind of nerve wracking, but it comes with the job,” Cryer said. “Daly's been pitching great all season, he just got into a little funk and that happens when you're a reliever like me and him. You're going to get thrown into bad situations, but all you can do is throw strikes. I struggled to find it at first, but I felt like I battled back enough to be able to compete.”
It wasn't the first time Cryer has faced the dangerous Disher.
“He's from my conference in college, so I've seen him before,” he said. “I knew what he was looking for, but he's been hitting balls hard, tearing up the league. I just made a couple of quality pitches and that helped me out by keeping him off balance. Good things happen when you throw strikes. I'd love to face him whenever, it's one of those things where if I get ahead, it's the pitchers count, but if he got ahead, it's where good hitters turn into great hitters.”
With the win, the Doubledays (19-15) remain four games behind first-place Jamestown, but they're in a three way tie with Williamsport and Batavia. They look to sweep Tri-City (13-22) and pick up some ground with a win today.
Notes: Daly earned his first win of the season, while Miller suffered his second loss. ... The Doubledays did not have one multiple hitter or baserunner in the win. McDade was the only hitter to not score. ... Disher earned two of the ValleyCats six hits. ... Auburn is now 2-2 in its longest home stand of the season. ... All three Tri-City pitchers threw at least one strikeout for 10 total. The five throwers for the Doubledays also fanned 10.
One wish granted
Sugarman Law Firm hosted the second of three Make-A-Wish on Wednesday. Eight-year-old Sammy Dimatto threw out the first pitch and got to watch an exciting game, with VIP treatment as part of his day. Dimatto, who's wish is to see the New York Yankees play in August, threw out a perfect first pitch to Doubledays' pitcher Justin Cryer. Dimatto recently underwent a liver transplant.
D-days Today
Record: 19-15
Standings:
Second place
Streak: 2 wins
Next: vs. Tri-City, 7 p.m.
