AUBURN - If the Auburn Doubledays' defense could stay away from the big innings, where they either give up an error or more than two runs, they would be in much better shape this season.
Against Stedler Division-leading Oneonta Tuesday at Falcon Park, Auburn couldn't get away from either cringe-inducing statistic, as they committed three errors and allowed three or more runs in two separate innings as the Tigers coasted to a 9-2 win.
The Doubledays took an exciting 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when the newest team member, Sean Ochinko, belted an RBI double to score Welinton Ramirez. That first frame was the only time in the game when Auburn managed more than one hit, totaling six altogether. Ochinko was responsible for both runs, as he had a sacrifice groundout to score Ramirez in the sixth. Against Tigers closer Mike LaLuna in the ninth, Auburn loaded the bases on two walks and a Lance Durham singled with one out, but Markus Brisker lined into a double play to end the game.
The contest seemed over much earlier than the ninth inning, as Oneonta tallied 10 hits and mounted a 4-0 lead after three innings and two Auburn errors. Dave Sever suffered his first loss of the season, lasting just four innings and giving up five hits, one walk and striking out four. Sever had been the Doubledays' best starting pitcher, leading the team in strikeouts and wins, with a 2.84 ERA heading into Tuesday.
Josh Wells relieved Sever in the fifth and pitched well, not allowing a run or a hit in three innings. Steve Turnbull then allowed the game to get further out of hand, as Oneonta scored four runs off him - with help from a Kevin Nolan fielding error - in the eighth. The Doubledays' shortstop leads the team in errors with seven in 19 games. David Slovak closed the game, giving up the Tigers' final run in the ninth - an RBI single to Jim Gulliver to score Wade Gaynor.
Oneonta starter Gary Perinar came off his worst start of the season incredibly well. He gave up six runs to Vermont in just 1 1-3 innings, and had allowed 10 runs off 10 hits in 11 innings of work this season. Against Auburn, Perinar won his second game by allowing just four hits, two walks and striking out five in five innings - not too bad for a pitcher that came into the game with an ERA over 8.00. Michael Torrealba shut down Auburn in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing only Ramirez's double in the sixth.
Oneonta's offense could have put on an extra-base hit clinic, however. Usually hard to come by, the Tigers managed two triples and four doubles collectively.
The loss is Auburn's (9-16) third straight, while Oneonta (14-8) has now won four in a row. The game is the first of nine straight interleague contests for Auburn, and the opponents don't get much easier after the Tigers. The Doubledays embark on a six-game road trip Friday to play Brooklyn, the best team in the New York-Penn League, before heading north to Tri-City Monday. Today, the Doubledays look to redeem themselves in the second game of the series with the Tigers.
Tigers 9
Doubledays 2
The Doubledays took an exciting 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when the newest team member, Sean Ochinko, belted an RBI double to score Welinton Ramirez. That first frame was the only time in the game when Auburn managed more than one hit, totaling six altogether. Ochinko was responsible for both runs, as he had a sacrifice groundout to score Ramirez in the sixth. Against Tigers closer Mike LaLuna in the ninth, Auburn loaded the bases on two walks and a Lance Durham singled with one out, but Markus Brisker lined into a double play to end the game.
The contest seemed over much earlier than the ninth inning, as Oneonta tallied 10 hits and mounted a 4-0 lead after three innings and two Auburn errors. Dave Sever suffered his first loss of the season, lasting just four innings and giving up five hits, one walk and striking out four. Sever had been the Doubledays' best starting pitcher, leading the team in strikeouts and wins, with a 2.84 ERA heading into Tuesday.
Josh Wells relieved Sever in the fifth and pitched well, not allowing a run or a hit in three innings. Steve Turnbull then allowed the game to get further out of hand, as Oneonta scored four runs off him - with help from a Kevin Nolan fielding error - in the eighth. The Doubledays' shortstop leads the team in errors with seven in 19 games. David Slovak closed the game, giving up the Tigers' final run in the ninth - an RBI single to Jim Gulliver to score Wade Gaynor.
Oneonta starter Gary Perinar came off his worst start of the season incredibly well. He gave up six runs to Vermont in just 1 1-3 innings, and had allowed 10 runs off 10 hits in 11 innings of work this season. Against Auburn, Perinar won his second game by allowing just four hits, two walks and striking out five in five innings - not too bad for a pitcher that came into the game with an ERA over 8.00. Michael Torrealba shut down Auburn in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing only Ramirez's double in the sixth.
Oneonta's offense could have put on an extra-base hit clinic, however. Usually hard to come by, the Tigers managed two triples and four doubles collectively.
The loss is Auburn's (9-16) third straight, while Oneonta (14-8) has now won four in a row. The game is the first of nine straight interleague contests for Auburn, and the opponents don't get much easier after the Tigers. The Doubledays embark on a six-game road trip Friday to play Brooklyn, the best team in the New York-Penn League, before heading north to Tri-City Monday. Today, the Doubledays look to redeem themselves in the second game of the series with the Tigers.
Tigers 9
Doubledays 2
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