=== Daily Dugout Chatter - Tuesday, July 6th === (Games from Monday, July 5th)

From The My Sportsbook

AUBURN'S WINNING STREAK REACHES TEN GAMES

Adam Lind's RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning lifted the red hot Auburn Doubledays past the Brooklyn Cyclones, 5-4, on Monday night. Auburn improved to 14-3 with the victory and has now won ten consecutive games. The Doubledays took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning, but an RBI single off the bat of Dante Brinkley plated Corey Coles and forced extra innings. Eugenio Velez led off the tenth inning with an infield single, then advanced to second when Aaron Matthews laid down a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Carlos Muniz gave Vincent Esposito an intentional free pass, then surrendered an infield single to Brian Hall that loaded the bases. Lind followed and poked the game-winning hit to right field. Joey McLaughlin (2-2) picked up the win in two innings of relief. Muniz (2-2) suffered the loss.

TWO GAMES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

Aarom Baldiris hit an RBI single in the top of the 19th inning to break a scoreless tie, as the St. Lucie Mets outlasted the Sarasota Red Sox in 19 innings en route to a 2-0 win. David Byard (5-3) picked up the win for the Mets, tossing three scoreless innings. Byard was the sixth Mets pitcher to take the mound. Joe Rogers (6-5) suffered the loss, allowing both runs in the 19th inning. He was the seventh pitcher for Sarasota. Jay Caligiuri tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly that plated Jonathan Slack. Jon Lester and Justin Sturge each had six strikeouts for the Red Sox.

THUNDER STICKS

Sean Henn was impressive in 7 2/3rd innings and four Trenton players hit home runs as the Thunder bolted passed the New Britain Rock Cats, 7-3, in an Eastern League Northern Division game Monday afternoon. Having won six of its last 10, Trenton improved to 40-41 while New Britain, which has lost six of its last 10, fell to 39-44. Henn, who improved to 4-3, scattered eight hits, two runs and five strikeouts over 7 2/3rd innings. His ERA now stands at 3.67. Providing Trenton's offense were Kevin Thompson, who hit a solo home run and walked twice, Aaron Rifkin, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, Mitch Jones, who jacked a solo home run, and Tommy Winrow, who also contributed with a solo home run. Boof Bonser (5-8) was the losing pitcher. He was touched for four runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out seven. Kevin West hit a two-run home run and Ryan Owens went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for New Britain.

TEN FOR GASSNER

Dave Gassner became the second International League pitcher to earn his 10th win of the season as the Rochester Red Wings upended the Durham Bulls, 9-2, on Monday night. Gassner, who is 10-5 for the Red Wings this season, tossed seven solid innings and fanned six. The lefty yielded one run on a homer by BJ Upton and held Durham to four hits. Gassner had plenty of offensive support on this night. Justin Morneau and Josh Rabe each belted home runs for the Red Wings. Morneau's was his 21st of the year. He is third in the International League in round-trippers. Jason Kubel collected three hits, including two doubles, scored three runs and knocked in one to contribute to the Red Wings cause. Todd Ritchie (0-4) was touched up for eight runs, five of them earned, on ten hits and suffered the loss. Rochester improved to 45-39, while Durham dropped to 42-40.

LYNX IN ELEVEN

Jose Leon laced a three-run home run as the Ottawa Lynx plated four runs in the top of the 11th inning to beat the Louisville Bats, 6-2, in an International League game Monday night. Winners of three consecutive games, Ottawa improved to 38-47 while Louisville, losers of two straight, fell to 40-44. With the scored tied 2-2 entering the top of the 11th, Ottawa had two men on with one out when Leon stepped in and ripped a three-run home run to right field. Aaron Rakers (2-3) worked a scoreless inning of relief to earn the victory. He struck out two. Losing pitcher Joe Valentine (2-4) was touched for four runs on three hits and two walks in 2/3rds of an inning. Louisville and Ottawa are scheduled to play a doubleheader Tuesday.

FASANO'S BIG NIGHT

Sal Fasano went 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI as the Columbus Clippers crushed the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, 13-3, in an International League game Monday. With two straight wins, Columbus improved to 47-36 while Scranton, which has dropped four consecutive games, fell to 50-33. Fasano had an RBI double in Columbus' six-run first inning, cracked a solo home run in the fifth inning and added another solo shot in the ninth. Andy Phillips tripled, homered and drove in four runs for Columbus. Orlando Hernandez (1-1) was the winning pitcher. He gave up two runs on five hits and struck out five in seven innings. Losing pitcher Clay Condrey (6-4) was rocked for nine runs on nine hits in 2 1/3rd innings. Jim Rushford hit a two-run home run for Scranton.

MIDLAND DOWNS TULSA

Brian Sellier fell a home run shy of the cycle and drove in three runs to lead the Midland RockHounds to a 10-8 win over the Tulsa Drillers. Sellier had four hits on the day. John McCurdy also drove in three runs. Nelson Cruz, Jon Baker and Jon Weber all homered for Midland, while Francis Gomez scored three runs. Shawn Sonnier (2-3) earned the win. He allowed two unearned runs on one hit in 2 1/3rd innings. Marcus Gwyn recorded his tenth save. Tim Bausher (1-3) allowed four runs on three hits in three innings. Tony Miller and Ryan Shealy each homered in the loss for Tulsa. Tulsa will host Arkansas tomorrow, while Midland heads to Round Rock.

'TOPES TAME CUBS

Joe Dillon, Drew Niles and Keith Osik combined to drive in seven runs as the Albuquerque Isotopes edged the Iowa Cubs, 7-5, in a Pacific Coast League Central Division contest Monday night. With two straight victories, Albuquerque improved to 44-41 while Iowa, losers of two straight, fell to 48-35. Dillon hit two doubles, homered and drove in two runs, Niles went 4-for-5 with three RBI and Osik chipped in with two RBI for Albuquerque. The run support benefited Michael Tejera, who improved to 7-1 after allowing four runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Juan Alvarez worked a scoreless ninth inning to notch his first save. Losing pitcher Todd Wellemeyer (0-1) was touched for four runs on five hits in two innings. Iowa and Albuquerque are scheduled to play again Tuesday.