Ironbirds Win Pitchers Duel
Published on August 18, 2003 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Auburn Doubledays News Release
AUBURN, NY â On a cool and breezy Sunday night, Falcon Park felt more like a shooting gallery than a baseball stadium. The 1,924 fans in attendance for the Second Annual Mullet Festival saw the Aberdeen Ironbirds and Auburn Doubledays pitching staffs combine for 29 strikeouts in an Aberdeen 1-0 shut-out of Auburn. The loss marks the first time that Auburn, the top hitting team in the New York-Penn League, has been shutout during the 2003 season. It's also the first time Auburn has lost back-to-back games since July 2.
Aberdeen starting pitcher Joe Coppinger (5-3) held the Doubledays scoreless through five innings on three hits with eight strikeouts. Relievers Anthony Boughner, Mike Patitucci and Brandon Spillers combined to allow only three hits over the next four innings to finish off the shut-out.
Auburn pitching was just as good. Starter Josh Banks pitched four scoreless innings yielding only one hit with a season high nine strikeouts. Banks was pulled after four innings because he was on a 60-pitch count. Reliever Jeremy Harper would allow the lone run of the contest in the top of the fifth inning along with three Aberdeen hits. Davis Romero would follow Harper and pitch three hitless innings with seven strikeouts. Bubbie Buzachero pitched a scoreless ninth.
Aberdeen's Dennis Wyrick drove in the lone run of the contest on an RBI single up the middle with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Wyrick ended the night 1-for-2 with one RBI. Second basemen Eric Grimm singled into the outfield then stole second to set up the winning hit. Erik Kratz was the only offensive star for the Doubledays going 3-for-4.
The Doubledays had numerous scoring chances but could not convert. Auburn left a total of twelve runners on base compared to Aberdeen's three. Auburn's best chance came in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded; but Aberdeen's Mike Patitucci would strike out Carlo Cota to end the rally. Auburn would again challenge in the ninth with runners on second and third with only one out. Patitucci would force Ryan Roberts to ground out for the second out of the inning. Branden Spillers was brought in and struck out Doubleday Paul Richmond to end the game.
The 2003 Pinckney Division Champions are back in action tomorrow night on the road at Diethrick Park to face the Jamestown Jammers at 7:05 PM. Auburn has defeated Jamestown in all 13 meetings this season. You can catch the action live on 89.1 WDWN with the "Voice of the Auburn Doubledays" John McGraw starting at 6:50 PM. If you can't make it to a radio you can hear the Doubledays online at Syracuse.com.
New York-Penn League Stories from August 18, 2003
- Renegades Stormed by Cyclones, 9-0 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Staten Island falls to Aberdeen, Eric Duncan Makes Big Staten Island Debut - Staten Island Yankees
- Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short for Cardinals against Crosscutters - New Jersey Cardinals
- Expos Fall to O-Tigers, 6-1 - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Pennant Race Rolls On - Williamsport Crosscutters
- Ironbirds Win Pitchers Duel - Auburn Doubledays
- Diefenderfer Shines in Win - Batavia Muckdogs
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