The Aberdeen IronBirds (5-6) beat the Staten Island Yankees (4-6) by a score of 2-1 on Friday night in the 1st game of a 3-game series against the Yankees at Ripken Stadium. The red-hot IronBirds have now won 5 of their last 6 games, taking their record from 0-5 to 5-6 and are now sitting in 2nd place in the McNamara Division, while being just 2.5 games back from the 1st place Hudson Valley Renegades. The IronBirds got both of their runs in the game off of wild pitches, with Kris Richards scoring in the 6th Inning and Sam Kimmel scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th with the bases loaded. The IronBirds pitching staff was dominant last night, allowing just 4 hits and 1 run while walking none and racking up 9 K’s.
It was a traditional pitchers duel between IronBirds starter Janser Severino (3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K’s), who pitched very well in his 1st start of the season, and Yankees starter Caleb Smith (3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K’s) before 2B Kris Richards would walk, steal 2B, and then come around to score on a wild pitch from Phillip Walby to give the IronBirds a 1-0 in the 6th Inning. IronBirds reliever Jorge Rivera (3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K’s) was absolutely dominant last night, and retired every one of the 13 batters he faced in order while holding onto the 1-0 lead before exiting the game after the 7th Inning. Both teams would go scoreless in the 8th Inning, and the IronBirds were just one out and one strike away from clinching the Win in the top of the 9th before LF Brandon Thomas would hit an RBI single to RF off of IronBirds reliever Jose Figuereo to score Daniel Lopez and tie the game. IronBirds reliever Harry Marino ( also got the W last night) would then go on to retire the Yankees 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th, and then the IronBirds offense came to life in the bottom half of the Inning with singles from LF Sam Kimmel and Tanner Murphy before SS Jared Breen would walk to load the bases with 1 out. With 2B Kris Richards at the plate, Yankees reliever Stefan Lopez would then throw a wild pitch to score Kimmel and win the game for Aberdeen.
Now, here’s a couple of notes on last night’s game:
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- SS Jared Breen has been impressive in his last 3 games, going 4 for 12 (.333 avg) with 1 Run, 1 SB, and 2 RBI’s, resulting in a 3-game hitting streak.
- 1B Trey Mancini now also owns a 3-game hitting streak, going 5 for 11 (.454 avg) with 3 Runs, 2 2B’s and 2 RBI’s in the process.
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- DH Connor Bierfeldt has been lighting it up in the last six games, going 7 for 20 (.350 avg) with 3 Runs, 3 2B’s, 1 HR and 5 RBI’s during his impressive stretch.
- With a lead-off single in the 10th, LF Sam Kimmel now has a 6-game hitting streak and is 7 for 21 (.333 avg) during the hitting streak.
- RF Mike Yastrzemski made his IronBirds and pro debut last night after coming into RF for Manny Hernandez in the top of the 9th Inning, and he drew a walk in his 1st professional At-bat in the bottom of the 9th Inning. Welcome to Aberdeen Mike!!!!!!
- We talked about Jimmy Yacabonis and Michael Joseph yesterday, but they aren’t the only IronBirds relievers that are on fire. Janser Severino got the start last night, but has made 3 appearances out of the bullpen for Aberdeen in 2013. In 4 games, Severino has posted a sparkling 2.38 ERA while racking up 13 K’s in 11.1 Innings, and LHP Jorge Rivera has been outstanding as well. After Rivera’s incredible game last night, the 22-year-old now has an outstanding 2.00 ERA in 4 games, while recording 8 K’s in 9 Innings, and don’t forget about LHP Harry Marino’s superb start to the season either. The 22-year-old has pitched 5.2 shutout Innings (0.00 ERA) with 7 K’s in 3 games this season.
- The attendance at Ripken Stadium last night was 4,860!
- The IronBirds will play the Yankees in game 2 of this 3-game series tonight at 7:05 PM. LHP Mitch Horacek, the Baltimore Orioles 9th round pick out of Dartmouth in the 2013 MLB draft, will take the mound for Aberdeen and make his professional debut tonight! The 21-year-old posted a 6-2 record with a sparkling 2.20 ERA in 8 games ( 7 Starts) while racking up 42 K’s in 45 Innings for the Big Green in 2013. RHP Jairo Heredia (0-0, 1.08 ERA) will take the mound for Staten Island and is making his 3rd start of the season.
That’s all for now IronBirds Nation! Stay posted at IBN a couple of hours before game-time, where we will give you some pre-game notes before the game tonight along with tonight’s Line-up’s! See you later IronBirds Fans!!!
- Logan Quick