Rosa Delivers as 'Birds Rally in Extras

(ABERDEEN, MD) - Garabez Rosa delivered the game winning heroics as the 'Birds defeated Staten Island 4-3 in 10 innings and took the three-game series.

Levi Carolus scored the run after Rosa hammered a single to left field. Reliever Scott Muller etched his first win (1-0) this season with three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Aberdeen out hit the Yankees 9-3, while the 'Birds struck out ten batters in the contest.

The IronBirds rallied late with a three-run sixth inning. Buck Britton, Garabez Rosa and T.J. Baxter all scored after reaching on base with a fielder's choice, a single and a double. Rosa extended his hit streak to four games, while Baxter tied his career high in hits. Baxter collected pair of doubles and a single to tie his 3-hit mark on June 17, 2008 against Hudson Valley.

Staten Island jumped out to a 3-0 lead after tallying their trio of runs on one hit. Hector Rabago and Rob Lyerly reached on with a hit by pitch and a walk. Georgia Tech alum Luke Murton roped a 2 RBI triple to right field before he would score on a sac fly to right field.

'Birds right-hander Colin Allen received a no-decision in his second start after tossing 4.0 innings, giving up three runs on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Left-hander Shaeffer Hall tossed 5.0 scoreless innings for the Yankees, conceding three hits with four strikeouts in his professional debut.

Stephen Procner threw 3.0 scoreless innings for the IronBirds, fanning a pair of Yankees, including snatching his second pick-off of the year.

Catcher Brian Ward went 2-for-3 collecting his first professional multi-hit game as the IronBirds won their first extra-inning game since September 5, 2008 when they defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones 5-3 in 11 innings.

Aberdeen begins a three-game set with the Cyclones at Ripken Stadium tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.