The Aberdeen IronBirds (3-6) beat the Brooklyn Cyclones (4-5) by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday night in a game that was halted in the bottom of the 8th Inning due to heavy rain at Ripken Stadium. It was the first game of a 2-game series against the Cyclones, and the first game of a 5-game home stand for the IronBirds. IronBirds starter Stephen Brault was phenomenal last night, pitching 5.2 shutout Innings while allowing just one hit with 4 walk’s and 4 K’s to earn his 1st professional and 1st IronBirds win of his career, while DH Connor Bierfeldt ( 2-3, 2 RBI) and SS Jared Breen (2-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI) had big games for Aberdeen at the plate. IronBirds reliever David Richardson (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K’s) was impressive in his 1st appearance out of the bullpen this season after previously starting two games, closing out Aberdeen’s 1-hit shutout of the Cyclones before the game was ended due to the rain delay, and was deservedly awarded the Save in Aberdeen’s 1st home win of the 2013 season.
The IronBirds jumped out to a 1-0 in the 1st inning after a Connor Bierfeldt RBI single scored LF Sam Kimmel, and then made it 2-0 in the 2nd inning on an RBI double to Right from SS Jared Breen to score 1B Trey Mancini. Brooklyn’s starter John Gant (6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 10 K’s) then settled down nicely and dominated in the middle innings, holding the score to 2-0 Aberdeen before Jared Breen delivered again in the 6th Inning, this time on an RBI single to Left to score 2B Kris Richards, and extending the IronBirds lead to 3-0. Due to the delay the game would end an inning and a half later in the bottom of the 8th with the IronBirds still up 3-0, giving the IronBirds their 1st home win of the season after being swept by the Hudson Valley Renegades in the home-opening series of the season.
Now, here’s a couple of notes on last night’s game:
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- Not Including the postponed game against the Staten Island Yankees on Tuesday night, the IronBirds are now 3-1 in their last 4 games.
- DH Connor Bierfeldt is heating up, going 6 for 14 (.428 avg) with 1 HR and 5 RBI’s in his last four games
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- SS Jared Breen recorded his 1st multi-hit game of the season after going 2 for 3 last night!
- LF Sam Kimmel extended his hitting streak to 5 games last night, and is 6 for 20 (.300 avg) during that stretch.
- 2B Kris Richards had his 6-game hitting streak ended last night after going 0 for 3, but will look to continue his great start to the season and start a new hitting streak tonight! CF Anthony Vega also went 0 for 3 last night, ending his hitting streak at four games.
- RF Manny Hernandez is now on a 3-game hitting streak, going 4 for 11 (.363 avg) in his last 3 games.
- LHP Stephen Brault has gotten off to a great start to the season, and is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA with 9 K’s in 10.2 Innings in his first two starts.
Thats’s all I have for now IronBirds Nation! I will post a couple of pre-game notes on the site a couple of hours before first pitch, along with tonight’s Line-ups! Until later, have a great Thursday everybody!
– Logan Quick