The Aberdeen IronBirds (6-8) dropped the Hudson Valley Renegades (10-5) last night in a 13 Inning pitchers duel by a score of 1-0, and have now won 6 out of their last 9 games as they head into the 2nd game of the 3-game series against the Renegades on Tuesday night. The IronBirds pitching was excellent last night, dominating for the majority of the game while getting out of a jam or two in extra Innings to hold the score at 0-0 before DH Sam Kimmel’s Game-winning RBI 2B to score 3B Hector Veloz in the top of the 13th Inning to give Aberdeen the 1-0 lead and eventually, the 1-0 Win.
Last night’s starters Steven Brault ( 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K’s) and Austin Pruitt ( 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K’s) were very impressive on the mound early on in the game, and the game was still locked at 0-0 through 5 Innings. In the top of the 6th, Aberdeen would miss a huge opportunity to take the lead with bases loaded and just one out after Bierfeldt hit into the Inning-ending double play and the game remained scoreless, and then the IronBirds would follow that by leaving two on base in the 7th Inning. IronBirds reliever Jose Figuereo ( 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K’s) was outstanding out of the bullpen last night, and we would still be tied at 0-0 going into the 8th Inning while IronBirds reliever Jorge Rivera (2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K’s) was excellent out of the pen as well, but Renegades reliever Harmen Sidhu ( 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K’s) pitched just as good and we headed into the bottom of the 10th still at 0-0. Aberdeen reliever Dylan Rheault (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K’s) did well to get out a two-out jam with runners on 2nd and 3rd with an Inning ending groundout in the 10th, and then had a 1-2-3 Inning after getting the Inning-ending double play grounder in the 11th. For three straight Innings, the Renegades southpaw Kevin Brandt ( 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K’s) dominated the IronBirds hitters, and then in the bottom of the 12th, the Renegades were 90 feet away from winning the game with bases loaded and one out, but IronBirds reliever Nick Cunningham (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K’s) had other plans and was outstanding in getting out of the jam with a force out at home and then getting the K against Julian Ridings with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning. The IronBirds would then provide the heroics in the top of the 13th against Renegades reliever Cory Jordan (Took the L), starting with a single from Hector Veloz (1-2, GW run) and then finishing with a go-ahead RBI double to right from Sam Kimmel (2-6, GW RBI 2B) to Aberdeen the 1-0 lead! Cunningham would then come back on for the bottom of the 13th and recorded his 1st professional win with an impressive 1-2-3 Inning that was capped off with back-to-back K’s as the IronBirds would win the three and a half hour battle by a score of 1-0!
Now, here is a couple of notes on last night’s win:
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- Finally! The 15-game losing streak against Hudson Valley is over!!!
- A mind-blowing stat for the Renegades: Before Kimmel’s GW RBI 2B, the Renegades pitching staff went 35.2 Innings without allowing a run. That’s an out away from throwing four shutouts in 4-straight regular 9-Inning games. Insane. Also, last night’s starter Austin Pruitt has started his first 3 games of the year without allowing a run (0.00 ERA in 14 Innings) while recording 9 K’s and holding hitters to a .136 average.
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- Last night’s hero Sam Kimmel is now on a 9-game hitting streak, and is 14 for 35 (.400 avg) during that span. In his last 3 games however, Kimmel has been out of this world, going 7 for 14 (.500 avg). Kimmel is also T-7th in the NYPL with a .341 average.
- SS Jared Breen extended his hitting streak to 5 games last night on a single to right in the 7th Inning. The 22-year-old is now 6 for 21 (.285 avg) during his hitting streak. He also made an excellent play at SS in the 7th to get the final out of the Inning.
- Steven Brault has been light out in his first three starts! The southpaw is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 3 starts so far on the year. He’s also racked up 11 K’s in 14.2 Innings while holding hitters to a .192 average.
- If 2B Kris Richards doesn’t rob James Harris of a base-hit in the 12th Inning, I’m pretty sure Kimmel’s 2B in the 13th would of just tied the game at 1-1, not been the game winner.
- CF Anthony Vega and 1B Tanner Rust both had 2-hit games last night
- After racking up 11 K’s last night, the IronBirds pitching staff still leads the NYPL in K’s (128), while posting a steadily improving 3.83 ERA and is tied for 2nd in fewest HR’s (4)
- Last night’s attendance at the Dutchess Stadium was 3,930
- The IronBirds will play game 2 of this 3-game set against the Renegades tonight at 7:05 PM. RHP Sebastian Vader (1-1, 3.00 ERA) will take the mound for Aberdeen, while Hudson Valley’s starter is still TBD. That’s all I have for now IronBirds fans!!! Stay posted at IBN for some pre-game notes, including tonight’s line-up’s, that will be posted a couple of hours before game-time! Until then, have a great day everybody!!
- Logan Quick