[Empty Body]
ABERDEEN, MD- Colby Bortles hit a two-run homer to left center field with two outs in the fifth inning and the Connecticut bullpen made it stand as the Tigers gained a split of a twinbill at Ripken Stadium Wednesday night.
Trailing 2-1, Cole Peterson opened the sixth inning with a double. After Garrett McCain and Jordan Pearce struck out, Bortles launched his second round-tripper of the season to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
Aberdeen had runners at the corners with nobody out in the bottom of the frame, but Felix Viloria struck out Ryan Ripken and Will Vest got Mason McCoy to ground into a double play to end the threat. Closer Drew Carlton set the side down in order in the seventh for his ninth save in nine save chances.
Also starring for Connecticut; starter Ryan Castellanos (5-4), who went five innings while striking out a season-high six batters; and newcomer Ignacio Valdez, who blasted a tape-measure home run in the second to tie the game.
In the opener, Mike Baumann, Baltimores' third round pick this year, stifled the Tigers over 6 2/3 innings of three-hit shutout ball as the Ironbirds won 2-0.
Connecticut (33-32) now heads to Staten Island for four games in three days, including a twinbill Thursday night. Game one begins at 5 PM, and can be heard on 1310 WICH and online at www.cttigers.com
