The Aberdeen IronBirds (7-8) dropped the Hudson Valley Renegades (10-6) for the 2nd straight night by a score of 6-2, clinching the series win for the IronBirds, and setting up a sweep of the Renegades at the Dutch in game 3 of the 3-game set tomorrow night. After starting the season 0-5, the red-hot Aberdeen squad is 7-3 in the last 10 games, and are now just 2.5 games back from the division leading Renegades. Tonight’s starter Sebastian Vader put in an excellent performance ( 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K’s) en route to his 2nd win of the season, while 1B Trey Mancini (3-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and 2B Jeff Kemp (1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) both went deep to Left in the top of the 4th Inning. The IronBirds then tacked on some insurance runs on RBI’s from Manny Hernandez, Kris Richards, and Mike Yastrzemski (2-2, 1 R, 1 RBI) along the way and getting yet another stellar performance from the IronBirds bullpen, which has been absolutely amazing so far this season. Donnie Hart (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K’s) was untouchable in the 7th and 8th, and IronBirds closer Jimmy Yacabonis would easily get through the 9th after allowing a lead-off 2B to close out the 6-2 Aberdeen Win.
The Renegades would draw first blood in the 2nd Inning due to a 1-out Triple from C Omar Narvaez, who would then score on a RBI sacrifice fly from DH Granden Goetzman. The Renegades would carry a 1-0 lead into the 4th Inning before 1B Trey Mancini hit his 1st professional HR to lead off the top of the 4th and tie the game at 1-1, then later in the Inning 2B Jeff Kemp would launch a 2-run HR to left to give Aberdeen the 3-1 lead. Renegades starter Jordan Harrison ( 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K’s) did well to bounce back and keep the game close after allowing the two 4th Inning HR’s, and the Renegades would make it 3-2 after an RBI groundout from CF James Harris would score 1B Darryl George, but the IronBirds would hold onto the 1-run lead going into the 8th Inning. After singles from Yastrzemski and Mancini and a walk to Hector Veloz, the IronBirds would have the bases loaded with one out in the top of the 8th, and got an insurance run on an RBI groundout from Manny Hernandez (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) to make it a 4-2 lead. After getting Breen (walk) and Kalush (HBP) on base in the 9th, the IronBirds would end up with runners on 2nd and 3rd after an error by reliever Jamie Schultz, and the IronBirds would make the Renegades pay with an RBI single to score Breen (1-3, 1 R, 1 BB) from Yastrzemski (His 1st professional RBI) and an RBI sacrifice fly from 3B Kris Richards, resulting in a 6-2 lead for Aberdeen. Jimmy Yacabonis ( 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) would then close out the 6-2 W for the IronBirds, and has now pitched his first 8.1 Innings of the year with a spotless 0.00 ERA.
For your entertainment, here are some notes on tonight’s 6-2 win:
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- LF Sam Kimmel was subbed off for Mike Yastrzemski in the 5th Inning due to an apparent injury, and we hope it’s not a serious one. Kimmel’s 9-game hit streak was snapped tonight, but the 23-year-old is still hitting .319 (15 for 47) with 6 R, 2 RBI, and 3 SB’s while posting a .373 OBP on the year.
- SS Jared Breen now has a 6-game hitting streak after tonight’s 7th Inning single, and is hitting .291 ( 7 for 24) during that span.
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- In 4 starts, the 21-year-old Sebastian Vader is now 2-1 on the season with a stellar 2.96 ERA while racking up 19 K’s and walking just 3 in 24.1 Innings, and has posted an outstanding 0.90 WHIP while holding batters to a .202 avg. He leads the team in IP and K’s and has the lowest WHIP and 2nd lowest ERA among starters, and leads the NYPL in IP, T-2nd in wins, and T-4th in the NYPL in K’s One word: ACE
- As previously noted, Mike Yastrzemski recorded his 1st professional RBI in the 9th Inning! The 22-year-old out of Vanderbilt went 2 for 2 last night and now has 3 hits in his first 9 at-bats of the year, along with 1 RBI, 1 2B, and 4 BB in 5 games.
- After going 3-5 with his 1st professional HR in the 4th Inning, 1B Trey Mancini is now hitting .292 with 4 2B, 1 HR, and 7 RBI. In his last 7 games, Mancini is hitting a ridiculous .400 (10 for 25) with 3 2B, 1 HR and 4 RBI.
- Kris Richards picked up his 7th RBI tonight, tying him for 1st on the team with Hector Veloz and Trey Mancini, while 2B Jeff Kemp’s 2-run blast in the 4th Inning tied him for the team lead in HR’s with Veloz (2)
- We mentioned it earlier, but it deserves to be mentioned again! Jimmy Yacabonis has been lights out this season, posting a spotless 0.00 ERA through six games. The 21-year-old from Matawan, New Jersey has also racked up 10 K’s in 8.1 Innings, while picking up 1 of the teams 2 saves and has finished 5.
- After posting 11 K’s tonight, The Aberdeen Pitching staff still leads in the NYPL in K’s (139) while posting a solid and rapidly improving 3.72 ERA, and is 2nd in IP (145.1)
- The attendance at the Dutch last night was 4,255
-The IronBirds will try for the sweep of the 3-game series against the Renegades tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. RHP Janser Severino (0-1, 2.38 ERA) will take the mound for Aberdeen, while Chris Kirsch (1-0, 1.80 ERA) gets the nod for the Renegades. That’s all for now IronBirds fans! Be sure to check in at IBN tomorrow morning for some pre-game notes, and the Line-up’s will be posted a couple of hours before first pitch. See you in the AM IronBirds fans!
- Logan Quick