Strong pitching helped the Aberdeen IronBirds to their first win of the 2016 season, a 3-2 decision over the Hudson Valley Renegades Saturday night at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
IronBirds starter Travis Seabrooke allowed Hudson Valley's two runs over his five and third innings to get the win, and Mike Burke set down 10 of the final batters he faced to save the win for Aberdeen (1-1).
The IronBirds scored a pair of runs in the first inning thanks to more timely hitting by Randolf Gassaway, who doubled in both with a shot into the left center field gap.
Hudson Valley pushed a run across in the home half of the first and tied the game at 2 apiece with a single run in the fourth. Both scores were aided by Aberdeen errors and only one of the runs was earned.
The IronBirds scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the sixth when Ronarsy Ledesma singled in Jason Heinrich.
Aberdeen had six hits on the night, with DH Gassaway accounting for two of them. Hudson Valley, meanwhile, had seven hits off the two Aberdeen pitchers.
Winning pitcher Seabrooke gave up five hits, walked one and struck out two. Burke gave up two hits, issued no walks and struck out three. Garrett Funlenchek, the second of three Hudson Valley pitchers, took the loss.
The IronBrids move on to Staten Island Sunday for the first of three games with the Yankees, a 4:30 p.m. start, followed by night games Monday and Tuesday.
The season home opener at Ripken Stadium is Wednesday, with first pitch slated at 7:05 p.m. The opening night ceremonies will feature a salute to law enforcement.