A Three-Run Double by Will Howard in the Ninth Gives the Birds a 3-2 Victory
ABERDEEN, MD- The IronBirds win in walk-off fashion Wednesday night in a 3-2 comeback over the ValleyCats. The Birds plate three runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal game two of the three-game series. LF Will Howard launched a three-run double to center field to take the victory.
Facing RHP Sebastian Vader, the ValleyCats plated a one spot in the fifth inning. 3B Ryan Dineen led off the frame reaching first on a throwing error by 1B Cameron Edman. DH Jobduan Morales smacked a ground ball single to right field, only the second hit of the game by Tri-City. With one on and two outs, LF Dan Gulbransen grounded into a double play. Dineen advanced to the plate putting up the first run of the night at Ripken Stadium.
Two outs in the ninth, 1B Jesse Wierzbicki slapped a double to left field. C Tyler Heineman singled on a fly ball to right field, his 22nd RBI of the season. But the insurance run was not enough for a Tri-City win.
3B Torsten Boss led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk by RHP Blake Ford. SS Joel Hutter a singled on a fly ball to centerfield, Boss to second. DH Sam Kimmel followed with a sacrifice bunt. A throwing error by Ford, loaded the bases for the Birds. Howard stepped to the plate with one out on the board. The game winning RBI-double sent to center field awarded the comeback victory to the IronBirds.
On the hill, RHP Jesse McCracken (1-1) notched the win for the Birds. RHP Blake Ford (0-3) picked up the loss.
RHP Sebastian Vader pitched a season-high five strikeouts over six innings of work to start the game.
The IronBirds and ValleyCats will play the rubbermatch of their three-game series on Thursday evening. RHP David Richardson (3-2, 2.91) will get the ball for the Birds while Jamestown will turn to LHP Brian Holmes (5-1, 2.40). First pitch from Ripken Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m. Coverage on the IronBirds Radio Network will begin at 6:50p.m.
For tickets, call the IronBirds box office at (410) 297-9292 or go online to www.ironbirdsbaseball.com.
