Having lost their last seven games, and needing a victory to avoid breaking the franchise record for losses in a season, the Aberdeen IronBirds rode a four-run, fifth-inning rally to a 5-3 victory over Tri-City in their final home game of the season.
With the win, Aberdeen improved to 23-48 on the year. Through Thursday's game, the IronBirds were trailing the third-place Hudson Valley Renegades by 10 games in the four-team McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League.
Trailing, 3-1, heading into the bottom of the fifth, Aberdeen got a leadoff double to left from Ryan Zrenda, who was promptly knocked home by Thomas Winegardner's two-bagger to center. Glynn Davis moved his teammate over to third with a bunt single, and Martin Serrata followed with a single to left that scored Winegardner with the tying run. Davis and Serrata advanced a base each when the Tri-City hurler's pickoff attempt went sailing into the wall. Both were then knocked home when Mychal Givens slapped a two-RBI single to right.
Aberdeen went up in the home half of the first. Davis had a lead-off single. Serrata hit into a fielder's choice on which Davis was retired, then moved to second on Givens' groundout to third. Joe Velleggia came up next and belted a two-out, RBI single to left that scored Serrata from second.
Tri-City tied things up in the second, hitting three singles to score once against Aberdeen starter Eduardo Rodriguez.
With Rodriguez still on the mound in the top of the fourth, the Valleycats went up by two, posting two runs on a solo homer, a walk and a single.
Rodriguez lasted four frames, striking out four, walking one and holding Tri-City to three earned runs on six hits in a no decision.
Aberdeen reliever Jorge Rivera (1-0) got the win with a three-inning relief stint in which he held the visitors hitless, struck out three and did not allow a walk.
Devin Jones earned his second save of the season with a two-inning effort, striking out three, walking one and holding the Valleycats hitless along the way.
Givens finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Davis was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Zrenda went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Winegardner had two singles, one run and one RBI in the victory. Serrata scored a pair of runs, while Wynston Sawyer finished 1-for-2 with a double and two walks.