Williamsport, PA — The Cutters offense was held in check for the second consecutive game by the Aberdeen IronBirds, as Williamsport falls 5-2 at BB&T Ballpark. It is the the first time the Crosscutters have lost back-to-back games at home this season.
The IronBirds were able to open the scoring in the top of the first inning against Cutters starter Julian Garcia, on a two-out RBI single by Ryan McKenna. Aberdeen led 1-0 heading into the top of the 3rd.
Aberdeen plated another run against Garcia, getting an RBI single from Chris Clare to score Frank Crinella, making it 2-0. Crinella led off the inning with a triple into the left-center gap.
Garcia was replaced by Blake Quinn before the 5th inning. For Garcia, he finished the night allowing two runs, both earned, on four hits and a walk over four innings of work. Garcia collected three strikeouts in his longest outing of the season.
The IronBirds struck for three runs, all with two outs in the top of the 7th inning against Quinn. Highlighting the inning for Aberdeen was a two-out, two-run triple to right-center off of the bat of Austin Hayes to extend the lead to 4-0. Hayes would score on a Quinn wild pitch to cap the scoring, making it a five-run IronBirds lead.
Quinn was replaced before the 8th inning by Jake Kelzer. The right-hander worked around a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning of work, striking out one.
Trevor Bettancourt made his professional debut out of the Crosscutters bullpen, tossing a perfect inning in the top of the 9th inning with a pair of strikeouts. Bettancourt showed a good fastball mixed with a solid breaking ball in his lone inning of work.
Williamsport was able to plate their two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning. In his Cutters debut, Evan Rogers drove home the first Cutters run with a two-out single that plated Luis Encarnacion. The second run crossed when Williams Cuicas scored on a throwing error by IronBirds shortstop Chris Claire.
The Cutters continue to struggle with runners in scoring position, as they finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding seven runners on base in the loss.
The Crosscutters try to salvage the series against the Iron Birds tomorrow night at BB&T Ballpark. Williamsport will send Adonis Medina to the mound. Medina has posted a 1-0 record with a 0.64 ERA in three home starts this season. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
Cutter Carvings – The Crosscutters have dropped five-straight games for the first time this season…Williamsport is 2-for-15 (.133) with runners in scoring position in the series…All three runs for Williamsport have been scored with two outs in the bottom of the 9th…
