AUBURN - They had the advantage in hits, but an edge in errors and a tough pitching performance led to a fifth straight Auburn Doubledays loss on Thursday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Auburn shortstop Bryan Kervin throws to first for the third out in the top of the second inning on Thursday at Falcon Park. The Doubledays lost against the Williamsport Crosscutters 6-2.
Auburn shortstop Bryan Kervin throws to first for the third out in the top of the second inning on Thursday at Falcon Park. The Doubledays lost against the Williamsport Crosscutters 6-2.
Josh Wells struggled in his second straight start, giving up all six Williamsport runs in the Doubledays' 6-2 loss at Falcon Park. Auburn dropped five games behind first-place Batavia in the Pinckney Division with the loss.
Wells (5-4) threw well in his first two innings of work, fanning two as no Crosscutters reached base. That was until the Doubledays committed two of their three errors and Wells' pitches got more and more shaky. The Crosscutters scored twice in the third off two hits and the two miscues, but then tallied four more runs in the fourth before Wells was pulled in favor of Danny Farquhar with one out after six batters.
“Wells threw well the first three innings,” Doubledays pitching coach Antonio Caceres said. “He was down and really threw hard, but I don't know if he's getting tired or what. He's got to throw strikes and get better. They hit the ball hard tough, they're a good hitting team.”
With one hit of their own in the first four innings, the Doubledays struggled to give Wells any support. Kyle Drabek made his first start in the New-York Penn League this season, but didn't earn the win despite a strong showing. Fresh out of the Gulf Coast League, Drabek lasted 4 1-3 innings, striking out five, walking three and allowing one hit and one run. The Crosscutters made their one error in the fifth when Jim Murphy had trouble fielding a Mike McDade line drive near first base. McDade eventually scored on a Bartolo Nicolas RBI single, but the Doubledays stranded three of 10 total runners in the frame.
Defensively for Auburn, the errors ceased and the pitching excelled from the middle of the fourth on. Farquhar went 2 2-3, striking out five while not allowing a walk, hit or run. Chuck Huggins completed the game, nearly without a hitch. He walked Steve Susdorf as the only Crosscutters baserunner in the final three innings, while striking out seven, including the side in the ninth, and his last five batters altogether.
“Huggins tonight was outstanding,” Caceres said. “He's getting better, working in his strikes and making good pitches. Farquhar too, but the starting pitcher is the guy you'd like to win or lose, for the most part. When your starter comes in and gives up five, six, seven runs it's going to be tough.”
The Doubledays scored once more in the eighth, on a Chris House pinch-hit RBI single that brought in Chris Hopkins, who was also pinch hitting. Jordan Ellis earned his second win of the season, in relief of Drabek. Ellis went 2 1-3 innings, giving up two hits and a walk, but struck out three.
Auburn (31-28) hosts Williamsport for the second game of the series tonight.
Notes: Auburn has now lost eight of its last 11 games. The rest of the Doubledays schedule comes against division opponents. ...Over the last 10 games coming in to Thursday's contest, Auburn has hit .203, and .191 over the last five. They were hitting .306 against the Crosscutters. ...McDade dropped to sixth in the lineup, the furthest down he's been all season. He went 2-for-4 with a walk and was the team's only multiple hitter. ... Williamsport recorded six hits, one fewer than Auburn, but they all came in the third and fourth innings. The Crosscutters had one baserunner in the other seven innings.
Wells (5-4) threw well in his first two innings of work, fanning two as no Crosscutters reached base. That was until the Doubledays committed two of their three errors and Wells' pitches got more and more shaky. The Crosscutters scored twice in the third off two hits and the two miscues, but then tallied four more runs in the fourth before Wells was pulled in favor of Danny Farquhar with one out after six batters.
“Wells threw well the first three innings,” Doubledays pitching coach Antonio Caceres said. “He was down and really threw hard, but I don't know if he's getting tired or what. He's got to throw strikes and get better. They hit the ball hard tough, they're a good hitting team.”
With one hit of their own in the first four innings, the Doubledays struggled to give Wells any support. Kyle Drabek made his first start in the New-York Penn League this season, but didn't earn the win despite a strong showing. Fresh out of the Gulf Coast League, Drabek lasted 4 1-3 innings, striking out five, walking three and allowing one hit and one run. The Crosscutters made their one error in the fifth when Jim Murphy had trouble fielding a Mike McDade line drive near first base. McDade eventually scored on a Bartolo Nicolas RBI single, but the Doubledays stranded three of 10 total runners in the frame.
Defensively for Auburn, the errors ceased and the pitching excelled from the middle of the fourth on. Farquhar went 2 2-3, striking out five while not allowing a walk, hit or run. Chuck Huggins completed the game, nearly without a hitch. He walked Steve Susdorf as the only Crosscutters baserunner in the final three innings, while striking out seven, including the side in the ninth, and his last five batters altogether.
“Huggins tonight was outstanding,” Caceres said. “He's getting better, working in his strikes and making good pitches. Farquhar too, but the starting pitcher is the guy you'd like to win or lose, for the most part. When your starter comes in and gives up five, six, seven runs it's going to be tough.”
The Doubledays scored once more in the eighth, on a Chris House pinch-hit RBI single that brought in Chris Hopkins, who was also pinch hitting. Jordan Ellis earned his second win of the season, in relief of Drabek. Ellis went 2 1-3 innings, giving up two hits and a walk, but struck out three.
Auburn (31-28) hosts Williamsport for the second game of the series tonight.
Notes: Auburn has now lost eight of its last 11 games. The rest of the Doubledays schedule comes against division opponents. ...Over the last 10 games coming in to Thursday's contest, Auburn has hit .203, and .191 over the last five. They were hitting .306 against the Crosscutters. ...McDade dropped to sixth in the lineup, the furthest down he's been all season. He went 2-for-4 with a walk and was the team's only multiple hitter. ... Williamsport recorded six hits, one fewer than Auburn, but they all came in the third and fourth innings. The Crosscutters had one baserunner in the other seven innings.
