Bethesda Takes Down D.C. 6-5

The Bethesda Big Train played yet another close game against the D.C. Grays on Monday evening, edging them out with a 6-5 victory on the road. The Grays committed a high amount of errors, while the Big Train played a clean game. Though D.C. may have out hit Bethesda, the Big Train was able to bring in a win under the lights in the nation’s capital.

Scoring started early as the Big Train took the lead in the top of the first. Gio Diaz (St. Mary’s CA) found his way to first after an error committed by the Grays’ shortstop. He quickly found his way to second after a single by Kobe Kato (University of Arizona). The Grays continued their errors as an attempted double play allowed Tate Soderstrom (University of Arizona) to gain traction at first as Kato advanced to second. Diaz rounded third and headed home to put Bethesda on the board, 1-0.

“Sticking to my approach and try to find some barrels," Kato said of his three-hit effort at the plate. "Hopefully the ball will find my way. What really helped us today was our pitching, our pitching did really good today. They were lights out.”

Both teams were locked in a pitchers' duel until the top of the fifth. Keith Torres III (Sacramento State) singled to first, advancing to second on yet another error by the Grays. He quickly found his way to third, stealing his thirteenth base of the season. After a walk to Cade Hunter (Virginia Tech), Martin Vincelli-Simard (Sacramento State) was able to find his way to first on a fielder’s choice, and an errant throw to the plate allowed Torres to score to put Bethesda up 2-0.

D.C. added to their total of three errors in the inning when the first baseman bobbled Christian Jayne's (East Carolina) grounder,  which brought in Hunter another run for Big Train, with Vincelli-Simard making his way to third. Kato came up and smacked a single, bringing Vincelli-Simard home. Kato was quick to steal second, putting himself in scoring position. Jayne was brought in by a sac fly hit by Soderstrom, bringing Bethesda up 5-0. Kato was the last to head home in the fifth, when Matt Thomas (William & Mary) hit him in on a single to right field, increasing the team’s lead to 6-0.

D.C. finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth and got on the board. Though it was only one run, it cut into Big Train’s significant lead. The Grays kept their momentum into the bottom of the sixth as a three-run homer brought the game close. The Big Train now only led by two, making the game a little too close for comfort. The Big Train’s lead was cut even closer in the bottom of the seventh as the Grays scored on a sac fly. This left little breathing room as the score came to 6-5. 

Chase Lee (Alabama) came in to pitch the ninth for Bethesda, working around a single to shut down the Grays for Big Train's 22nd win of the season. Bethesda pushed forward in their lead of the league 7.5 games ahead of D.C.

The Big Train will return home for a makeup game against the Alexandria Aces Tuesday evening. This will be the fifth matchup between the two teams, Bethesda outscoring their opponents 35-18. Join the Big Train for Military Appreciation night and $5 Tuesday!