The Aberdeen IronBirds jumped back in the win column Wednesday night, beating the Staten Island Yankees, 7-3, in an New York-Penn League McNamara Division game at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.
Aberdeen (22-29) led from the start and never trailed. An Austin Hays RBI single plated Ryan McKenna with the first run with two outs in the first inning.
The IronBirds added five more in the second to put the game away early. Tucker Nathans led off the inning with a solo home run, his first as an IronBird on his rehab stint. Kirvin Moesquit (2-for-4) doubled in the next run and Cole Billingsley singled in two more.
Hays (2-for-4) singled in Billingsley with the inning's final run. Alejandro Juvier (2-for-3) homered in the sixth for the last run. Daniel Fajardo also went 2-for-4 in the win.
Staten Island scored once in the seventh and twice in the eighth.
Cody Sedlock pitched well, allowing just a hit and two walks over three scoreless innings, while striking out four. Zach Muckenhirn (4-1) threw three scoreless innings as well to get the win. He allowed a hit and struck out four.
Hays is back
Hays missed 22 games with an undisclosed injury, but on the recent road trip to Connecticut, returned to the Aberdeen lineup fully in Sunday's doubleheader.
"Like before, I just wanted to come in, have fun just, play the game that I've always played in my life, so I got healthy and got back into a routine swinging on the field and things like that and when I went back in for the games, it just felt like normal, it felt like I hadn't even left the field at all," Hays said. "I'm just having a blast."
Despite missing the 22 games, Hays was in the dugout, in uniform, for each one.
"It was really tough, but I just trying to keep a positive mindset and help the team anyway I could," Hays said. "Whether it just be charts, or talking to guys, helping them through certain things they're going through. I feel like if I was in that position I'd want somebody to talk to me about it. I just keep myself in the game mentally, even though I couldn't be out there physically."
For the remaining time on the schedule, Hays said, "I just want to get to about 150 to 180 at bats and just feel confident going into the off-season. Just know that I have gotten some experience under my belt and just have fun for the rest of the year."
Back home
The Aberdeen IronBirds returned home to Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium Tuesday night and failed to score, losing to Staten Island, 5-0, in a New York-Penn League McNamara Division game.
Aberdeen and Staten Island was to play again Thursday to complete the series, while Lowell comes in to town for there more Friday through Sunday.
In Tuesday's loss the Yankees got all the runs they needed in the first against Aberdeen starter Travis Seabrooke (1-5). Ben Ruta and Nick Solak opened the game with consecutive singles and Timmy Robinson stepped in and delivered a three-run home run.
The Yankees added single runs in the fourth and seventh innings as well. Aberdeen, meanwhile, was limited to four hits.
Preston Palmeiro hit his second double as an IronBird, while Tucker Nathans, Chris Shaw and Cole Billingsley all singled to complete the Aberdeen offense.
Seabrooke pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks. Seabrooke struck out four. Daniel Ayers threw three innings, allowing two hits and an earned run, while striking out one.
Andrew Elliott tossed one hitless inning, striking out one.