After starting the season 0-5, the Aberdeen IronBirds (4-6) are starting to catch fire as last night’s 7-5 win over the Brooklyn Cyclones (4-6) completes the sweep of the two-game set and is the IronBirds 4th win in the last 5 games. The IronBirds were led by outstanding games from 1B Trey Mancini (3-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) and CF Anthony Vega (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 SB, 3 RBI), while getting 4 shutout Innings from relievers Michael Joseph ( 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB) and Jimmy Yacabonis, who went 2.1 shutout Innings and only allowed one hit while walking one and recording two K’s to pick up his 1st IronBirds and professional save.
The Brooklyn Cyclones put up two runs in the 1st Inning off of an RBI double from 1B Matt Oberste and an error, but Aberdeen would make it 2-1 in the bottom half of the Inning on an RBI double to left from RF Manny Hernandez ( 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI) before the Cyclones would make the score 3-1 in the 2nd Inning on an RBI single from SS Gavin Cecchini and then 5-1 in the 3rd Inning on a 2-run double to right from 2B Juan Carlos Gamboa. IronBirds starter Sebastian Vader ( 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 Earned), 2 BB, 0 K’s) would bounce back impressively in the 4th and 5th Innings to keep the Cyclones from adding to the 4-run lead going into the bottom of the 5th, and that’s when Aberdeen would strike back with venom. 1B Trey Mancini would make it 5-3 on a 2-RBI double to left to score Jared Breen and Kris Richards (2-5, 1 2B, 1 R), and then CF Anthony Vega would cash in with a 3-RBI double to left with the bases loaded with two outs to give Aberdeen the 6-5 lead. After 3 shutout Innings from the bullpen, Aberdeen would then take a 7-5 lead on an error from Cecchini to score Vega in the bottom of the 8th before Yacabonis came back on for the 9th and finished off the 6th straight shutout Inning for the IronBirds pitching staff on the night with a game-ending double play groundout from Oberste, clinching the 7-5 win over the Cyclones and the sweep of the two-game set.
Now, here’s a couple of notes on last night’s game:
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- RF Manny Hernandez extended his hitting streak to 4 games after an RBI double in the 1st Inning
- CF Anthony Vega is on fire, going 8 for 22 (.363 avg) with 1 HR and 4 RBI’s in his last six games
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- 2B Kris Richards is still on fire, going 12 for 33 (.363 avg) with 6 RBI’s in his last eight games
- 1B Trey Mancini is 4 for 7 (.571 avg) with 3 Runs, 2 2B and 2 RBI in his last two games, and is now hitting .267 with 5 RBI’s on the year.
- Reliever Jimmy Yacabonis has been lights out to start the season! In 4 games, he has pitched 7 shutout innings (0.00 ERA) with 8 K’s and 1 Save
- Even though it wasn’t his best start, Sebastian Vader picked up his 1st win of the season last night to put him at 1-1 on the year with a 3.00 ERA in 3 starts, while racking up 13 K’s in 18 Innings.
- Reliever Michael Joseph has also been outstanding out of the bullpen for Aberdeen this season. In 4 games, Joseph is 1-0 with 1.93 ERA with 7 K’s in 9.1 Innings
- The attendance at Ripken Stadium last night was 4,740
- The IronBirds will now take on the Staten Island Yankees in a 3-game series at Ripken Stadium, and the 1st game of the 3-game set is tonight at 7:05 PM. RHP Janser Severino (0-1, 3.52 ERA) will take the mound for Aberdeen, and is making his 1st start of the season after pitching very well in 3 games out of the bullpen and racking up 11 K’s in 7.2 Innings on the year. LHP Caleb Smith (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will get the start for Staten Island.
That’s all for now IronBirds Nation, and be sure to stay posted at IBN for some pre-game notes that will be posted a couple of hours before first pitch that will include tonight’s Line-up’s as always! See you later IronBirds fans!