Givens Shines in Debut as IronBirds Beat Lake Monsters
IronBirds 7 (32-35), LakeMonsters 2 (32-32)
August 29, 2010
Vermont (Runs-Hits-Errors): 2-5-2
Aberdeen (Runs-Hits-Errors):7-10-1
WP: Dan Klein (1-0)
LP: Christian Meza (0-1)
SV: (none)
HR: Kevin Keyes (2. 2nd inning off Sexton, 0 on, 0 out), Mychal Givens (1, 3rd inning off Jordan, 0 on, 0 out)
Aberdeen, MD - 2009 second-round draft pick Mychal Givens homered, scored three runs and drove home two in his Aberdeen IronBirds debut. It was enough to push the 'Birds past the Vermont Lake Monsters, 7-2. The win snapped a four-game losing streak.
Aberdeen took a one-run lead in the first. With one man down, Givens hit the first pitch he saw into the gap in left-center field for a double. Kipp Schutz singled, putting runners on first and third. David Anderson delivered a sacrifice fly to left, knocking in Givens from third.
The LakeMonsters quickly answered back. Kevin Keyes (2) led off the top of the second with a solo home run to tie the game at one. The next batter, Wade Moore, doubled to right-center. Connor Rowe sacrificed Moore to third. With two men down, Justin Miller hit a ground ball to third. IronBirds third baseman Adam Gaylord booted the ball, allowing Moore to score and giving Vermont a 2-1 lead.
Givens tied the ball game back up with one swing of the bat. Givens (1) led off the third inning with a solo home run to left field, knotting the ball game up at two.
Aberdeen starting pitcher Tyler Sexton left the ball game after the sixth. He surrendered just two runs, one earned, on three hits. He walked two and struck out four.
The IronBirds took the lead for good in the seventh inning. Joe Oliveira led off the frame with a double. Zach Moore reached on a bunt single and Sammie Starr was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Givens was then hit by a pitch to knock in the go-ahead run.
Schutz then broke it open a bit with a two-run single to right field. Givens later scored in the inning when Gaylord grounded into a fielder's choice.
Aberdeen tacked on one more run in the eighth. With Oliveira on third and two men down, Schutz delivered another RBI-single, making it 7-2.
Dan Klein (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his first professional win. Christian Meza (0-1) failed to record an out in the seventh inning, on the way to his first New York-Penn League loss. He was charged with all four runs the IronBirds scored that inning.
The IronBirds and the LakeMonsters will play the finale of their three-game series Monday evening at Ripken Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Baltimore Orioles 2010 first-round pick Manny Machado is expected to be in the starting lineup for the IronBirds.
The Aberdeen IronBirds have sold out their season tickets for the ninth straight season. Group packages and standing room only tickets, however, are still available for the 2010 season. For ticket information, contact our box office at (410) 297-9292 or visit us online at www.IronBirdsbaseball.com.
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