NYPL Aberdeen IronBirds

Aberdeen wins second straight

July 2, 2005 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Aberdeen IronBirds News Release


The old baseball adage "you see something new everyday" rung true on Saturday night, as the IronBirds (3-9) won their second straight game and took the series against the Brooklyn Cyclones (8-4) by the score of 2-1 in 14 innings. In a game that featured 39 total strikeouts, 14 innings, 3 ejections and a walk-off home run, the IronBirds gave Aberdeen fans a show before a fireworks extravaganza.

Brooklyn scored 1 run in the first off starter Radhames Liz before being shutout for the final 13 innings of play. Liz went 5 innings and allowed 4 hits and an earned run while walking 2 and striking out 9. Bryce Chamberlin followed with 3 scoreless innings of his own, adding 6 K's. Henry Lozado pitched innings 9-11, giving up only 2 hits and adding 6 more K's. The win went to Russ Brocato (1-1), who threw the final 3 innings, also allowing only 2 hits and striking out 2 more. The 23 strikeouts are a new IronBirds record, surpassing the old high mark of 18 (last set on June 23, 2004).

The IronBirds scrapped to tie the game in the 5th, when Kyle Dahlberg brought in Rob Marconi on an RBI groundout. Marconi looked like the player of the game early, with outstanding defense at second base (including 2 double plays in extra innings) and a 2-3 night and a sacrifice bunt at the plate.

The game stayed a stalemate for the next 8 innings, when tempers started to flare. Aberdeen DH Nolan Reimold was ejected in the bottom of the 13th when he questioned a called strike 3 to end the frame. In between innings, manager Andy Etchebarren went to talk to the home plate umpire about the call, and things got heated. Etch was ejected quickly, and then voiced his displeasure to both umpires, invoking memories of Earl Weaver.

As the top of the 14th started, Etch was walking to the home clubhouse beyond the rightfield wall. WIth the count 1-0, the Brooklyn leadoff batter chopped what was thought to be a single through the right side. Pitching coach Dave Schmidt came out to challenge the call, claiming the first base umpire called time out before the pitch. After a conference between the umps, the single was overturned, and the batter returned to the box with a 1-0 count. Brooklyn hitting coach Donovan Mitchell did his best Etch impersonation, and was also asked to leave by the men in blue. After play resumed, the leadoff batter flied out, and after a walk, Russ Brocato induced a groundball to short, where Francisco Guerrero made a crisp flip to Marconi, who quickly fired to first, getting some big time assistance from a big stretch by Ryan Finan to complete the double play.

With the crowd on its feet anticipating a fireworks extravaganza after the longest game in team history (14 innings), OF Corey Shafer took the unusual position of first base coach, and fired up the large contingent of remaining faithful by throwing his hands over his head getting everyone pumped up. OF Zach Davis worked the count to 2-0 leading off the inning. He then got a changeup that stayed up a bit, and turned on it, sending a high arching fly towards the bullpen in right centerfield. As he rounded first, the ball disappeared over the wall, sending the crowd and his Aberdeen teammates into a frenzy.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 2, 2005


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