Wild Finish; IronBirds Take Series Opener in Extras

BURLINGTON, VT - In the final series of the 2012 season, the IronBirds took the opener against the Vermont Lake Monsters, 3-2, in 11 innings. 1B Cameron Edman scored the game's winner run in the top of the 11^th inning after Cecil Tanner uncorked a wild pitch with PH Creede Simpson at the plate. The IronBirds bullpen was outstanding on the night. Jesse Fernandez, Josh Hader, Sander Beck, and Tommy Winegardner combined to toss eight scoreless frames to end the game.

RHP Branden Kline took the hill for the IronBirds in the series opener against the Vermont Lake Monsters. LF Austin Booker led off the inning with a single to left field. CF Brett Vertigan followed with a double down the right field line. With Booker on third and Vertigan on second, Kline threw a wild pitch with 2B Chris Bostick at the plate. Booker scored and Vertigan advanced to third. Later in the at bat, Bostick grounded out to short. Vertigan scored on the play to give the Lake Monsters a two-run advantage. Vermont would not score again on Monday night.

LHP Brent Powers started for the Lake Monsters on Monday and began his outing with three scoreless frames. In the fourth inning, however, the IronBirds got on the board. With one out and Cameron Edman on first, RF Manny Hernandez hit a fly ball to shallow center. CF Brett Vertigan came up empty on a diving empty. Edman advanced to third and Hernandez settled in at second with a double. Next up, C Scott Kalush tied the game with a two-run single into right field.

The IronBirds' bullpen kept the game tied at two with a dominant performance. RHP Jesse Fernandez tossed a career-high four scoreless innings. LHP Josh Hader followed with two perfect innings of relief with five strikeouts. In the tenth, RHP Sander Beck struck out the side in order.

In the 11^th inning, Aberdeen took advantage of an erratic Cecil Tanner. After walking the bases loaded, PH Creede Simpson stepped to the plate with one out. Simpson did not need to swing the bat and Tanner tossed a wild pitch that allowed Cameron Edman to score from third.

Tommy Winegardner retired the side in order in the 11^th en route to his 10^th save of the season.

Sander Beck (4-3) picked up the win on the night while Cecil Tanner (0-2) got the loss.

On the night, the IronBirds' pitching staff struck out a season-high 15 batters.

Aberdeen and Vermont will play game two of the three-game set on Tuesday night. RHP David Richardson (3-4, 5.09) will take the hill for the IronBirds while RHP Nolan Sanburn (0-1, 2.87) will toe the rubber for the Lake Monsters. First pitch from Centennial Field in Burlington, VT is set for 6:05 p.m. Coverage on the IronBirds Radio Network will begin at 5:50 p.m.