AUBURN - As Dennis Holmberg and the Auburn Doubledays made their way into the stands at Falcon Park to greet the loyal fans and employees that have stood by them all season, the feeling was one of sadness.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Auburn's Chris Demons is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after scoring in the third inning against Mahoning Valley during Tuesday night's game at Falcon Park.
Auburn's Chris Demons is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after scoring in the third inning against Mahoning Valley during Tuesday night's game at Falcon Park.
While the Doubledays season isn't officially over, finality was in the air as Tuesday marked the first time in seven seasons that a Holmberg-managed team wasn't concluding their home slate in the playoffs. Even though they didn't finish with a .500 record on Leo Pinckney Field this season, Auburn did wrap up their home schedule in style, with an 8-5 win over Mahoning Valley.
The Doubledays picked up five runs in the first inning on an abysmal performance by Scrappers' starter Trey Haley, who didn't make it through the frame. Haley (0-1) walked three batters, hit one more and gave up a hit in his 1-3 inning of work.
His successor, Wilfredo Ramirez fared better despite giving up a two-run single to Bryan Kervin, but the damage had been done. The Scrappers sent three pitchers to the mound in the first two innings and five altogether. It wasn't a good night for Scrappers pitching as five hurlers combined to walk 11 Doubledays, not including Joel Collins, who was hit by a pitch.
Auburn's Matt Wright struggled in his final start of the season, lasting just three innings and giving up three runs in the second. Ramon Hernandez delivered a two-run triple and another sacrifice RBI in the sixth, when the Scrappers scored twice more to complete their scoring.
Jay Monti picked up the win for Auburn, finishing just 1 1-3 innings and allowing four hits. Chuck Huggins wrapped up the game on a high note, allowing one walk, one hit, but striking out seven, including the side in the seventh.
Even though the Doubledays belted just six hits, compared to the Scrappers 10, each one seemed to count. Bartolo Nicolas cracked a two-run single in the third to score Chris Demons and Leance Soto. Auburn brought in its final run in the fourth, when Eddie Burns walked Mike McDade with the bases loaded. Auburn walked just four Mahoning Valley batters on the night.
The Doubledays (37-34) travel to State College for a two-game series today before wrapping up the season in Mahoning Valley.
Notes: Though not one Doubledays batter got more than one hit, Collins scored after both hit-by-pitches. ...Castillo Perez will likely not be pitching again this season after a right shoulder injury limited him to just four innings on Monday. ...The last two home games for Auburn clocked in at over three hours apiece. ...Indians first-round pick Lonnie Chisenhall went 1-for-3 with no RBIs and a run scored in his final night in Auburn. ...Chris Demons was transferred back to Auburn on Tuesday from AAA Syracuse, where he spent 10 days. Demons went 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and two runs scored. ...The Scrappers belted two doubles (two each by Zach Booker and Robert Alcombrack) and a triple (Hernandez). ...The Doubledays finished their last two games at home error free.
The Doubledays picked up five runs in the first inning on an abysmal performance by Scrappers' starter Trey Haley, who didn't make it through the frame. Haley (0-1) walked three batters, hit one more and gave up a hit in his 1-3 inning of work.
His successor, Wilfredo Ramirez fared better despite giving up a two-run single to Bryan Kervin, but the damage had been done. The Scrappers sent three pitchers to the mound in the first two innings and five altogether. It wasn't a good night for Scrappers pitching as five hurlers combined to walk 11 Doubledays, not including Joel Collins, who was hit by a pitch.
Auburn's Matt Wright struggled in his final start of the season, lasting just three innings and giving up three runs in the second. Ramon Hernandez delivered a two-run triple and another sacrifice RBI in the sixth, when the Scrappers scored twice more to complete their scoring.
Jay Monti picked up the win for Auburn, finishing just 1 1-3 innings and allowing four hits. Chuck Huggins wrapped up the game on a high note, allowing one walk, one hit, but striking out seven, including the side in the seventh.
Even though the Doubledays belted just six hits, compared to the Scrappers 10, each one seemed to count. Bartolo Nicolas cracked a two-run single in the third to score Chris Demons and Leance Soto. Auburn brought in its final run in the fourth, when Eddie Burns walked Mike McDade with the bases loaded. Auburn walked just four Mahoning Valley batters on the night.
The Doubledays (37-34) travel to State College for a two-game series today before wrapping up the season in Mahoning Valley.
Notes: Though not one Doubledays batter got more than one hit, Collins scored after both hit-by-pitches. ...Castillo Perez will likely not be pitching again this season after a right shoulder injury limited him to just four innings on Monday. ...The last two home games for Auburn clocked in at over three hours apiece. ...Indians first-round pick Lonnie Chisenhall went 1-for-3 with no RBIs and a run scored in his final night in Auburn. ...Chris Demons was transferred back to Auburn on Tuesday from AAA Syracuse, where he spent 10 days. Demons went 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and two runs scored. ...The Scrappers belted two doubles (two each by Zach Booker and Robert Alcombrack) and a triple (Hernandez). ...The Doubledays finished their last two games at home error free.
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