The Aberdeen IronBirds (0-4) were shut-out by the Brooklyn Cyclones (1-2) on Thursday night, losing by a score of 0-3. It marks the 2nd time in 4 games Aberdeen has been held without a run in the early stages of the 2013 season. The Cyclones were led by an outstanding start from John Gant ( 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K's) and excellent results from relievers Tim Peterson ( 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 K's) and John Mincone ( 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, while recording his 1st save of the season). The IronBirds only allowed 1 earned run to score tonight, coming on an RBI Double from Cyclones LF Jared King in the 3rd Inning, as the other two Cyclones runs came off of a costly error in the 3rd and a passed ball in the 5th. For Brooklyn, 3 runs was enough to record their 1st win of the season, and as a result, Aberdeen has now dropped the first four games of the season and look to pick up their first win tonight in game two of the 3-game set against Brooklyn.
Overall, IronBirds starter Austin Urban had a solid outing. He allowed a runner to get on base in each inning he pitched last night, but he battled well and didn't back down from opposing hitters, and was impressive in getting out of a couple of jams. Urban only allowed 1 earned run on 6 hits in 4.1 Innings while walking 3 and striking out 4. Worth noting, the IronBirds did have a few chances to put runs on the board, leaving a runner in scoring position five times ( In the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th Innings). Aberdeen couldn't capitalize though, finishing the night 1-9 with RISP while leaving eight on-base. IronBirds reliever Michael Joseph was phenomenal out of the bullpen tonight (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) and Jose Figuereo pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th in his IronBirds debut. Other than Doubles by 3B Hector Veloz and SS Jared Breen, 2B Kris Richards was basically the lone bright spot in the Aberdeen Line-up on Thursday night, going 3-4 with 1 SB on the night!
Here's a couple of notes on the game last night:
- DH Tanner Rust was signed by the Orioles this week out of New Mexico State, and he made his professional and IronBirds debut last night! Rust was a career .356 hitter at New Mexico State, while leading the team with a .375 Average last season. He also hit 7 HR's with 54 RBI last season.
- Along with Rust, Austin Urban and Jose Figuereo made their IronBirds debuts last night!
- Tanner Murphy, Anthony Vega and Kris Richards all recorded their first hit of the 2013 last night!
- 3B Hector Veloz now has a 4-game hitting streak to start the season
- The IronBirds actually out-hit the Cyclones last night, 8-6
- The IronBirds pitchers held the Cyclones hitters to just 1-10 with RISP last night, while recording 8 K's
- The IronBirds pitching staff now has 39 K's through 4 games, tied for the most in the NYPL
- Last night's attendance at MCU Park was 8,962!
That's it for now IronBirds Nation! Keep it locked at IBN, where we will have tonight's game preview with the Line-up's posted in a couple hours before first pitch!
- Logan Quick