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Big Train Downed 11-8 by Senators, End 10-Game Win Streak
Bethesda Big Train Infielder Cal Johnson (9) tosses a ball to second base as he falls during the game against the Southern Maryland Senators at Shirley Povich Field on Friday, July 10, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
BETHESDA, Md. — All good things must come to an end at some point.
Cal Ripken Jr. finally missed a game after 2,632 consecutive appearances, Ted Williams couldn’t get on base in his 85th game and the Bethesda Big Train finally snapped its 10-game win streak Friday night.
Costly mistakes led to five errors for the Big Train throughout the ballgame. The mistakes and runs added up to the Southern Maryland Senators’ benefit as they held off Bethesda 11-8 at Shirley Povich Field.
“Making five errors-that's very uncharacteristic of us,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “We just took bad angles to the ball. We didn't come through the ball. We let the ball play up back on our heels like we were playing on turf.”
The Big Train made the game interesting in the latter innings, putting together a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Shortstop Cal Johnson (Maryland) led off with a double to right field before left fielder Brennon Wright (South Alabama) walked to put two baserunners on for Bethesda.
After switching pitchers, the Senators tried to corral the potent hitting from the home squad. However, first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) roped a single to right field to get one back and reduce the Senators' lead to four runs.
Designated hitter Zachary Malvasio (UCF) then hit a deep fly ball to left-center field, but the ball barely bounced off the top of the wall. Even though Malvasio couldn’t extend his league-leading home run total to eight, he scored Wright from second base.
Center fielder TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic) stepped up to the plate. The league leader in on-base percentage has produced clutch hits for the Big Train this season, including Friday.
Gramesty hit a single that nestled down neatly in right field, scoring Malvasio and Gonzalez to bring Bethesda’s deficit to one run.
Three batters later, catcher Jack Gagen (Norfolk State) walked to load the bases after a pitch clock violation from the Senators pitcher. However, Johnson couldn’t replicate his success from the beginning of the inning, popping up a fly ball to end it.
“We took quality at-bats,” Colangelo said. “I’d like to see more quality at-bats early on, but like we tell them, we made the adjustments when we needed to.”
Bethesda Big Train Associate Head Coach Galvin Morris, left, and Bethesda Big Train First Baseman Emilio Gonzalez (46), right, celebrates Gonzalez’s 2-run home run during the game against the Southern Maryland Senators at Shirley Povich Field on Friday, July 10, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Gonzalez’s 2-for-4 night from the plate started in the second inning. After producing his first home run of the season against the Olney Cropdusters on July 3, Gonzalez hit a 376-foot homer over the batter’s eye in center field — the first hitter to accomplish the feat for the Big Train in 2026.
Last year’s “Triple Crown” started this season slowly, but newfound confidence and a return to his old walk-up music helped him get back on track. Since the start of July, Gonzalez is 88 percentage points higher in his batting average and has a 1.393 OPS.
His home run scored Wright after he singled to right field in a one-out situation.
Right-handed pitcher Auston Monahan (State College of Florida) started his third game for the Big Train this season. Monahan started his second appearance of July with a rare occurrence for college baseball players.
With one out and facing his fourth opposing hitter in the first inning, the Senators singled to load the bases. Defensively, Johnson dove out for a hard-hit ground ball, trying to turn a double play.
All Senators baserunners were called safe, but Cole Rhame’s listening ears were turned off. As he stepped off second base, second baseman Parker Corbin (Akron) easily tagged out the runner.
Monahan got out of the first inning without surrendering a run, but the Senators attacked him in the second. The Sterling, Virginia, native finished his stretch of work after three innings. Monahan struck out two batters, but gave up five earned runs.
“Anytime you get a day off, you got to come ready to play,” Colangelo said. “And physically, mentally, if we wanted the game, and you could tell we didn’t.”
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Austin Monahan (29) pitches during the game against the Southern Maryland Senators at Shirley Povich Field on Friday, July 10, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
After giving up two runs in the second inning, Bethesda’s bats caught fire again in the third frame.
Wright led off with a triple to center field as a deep fly ball bounced out of the Senators’ glove. Malvasio then laced a line drive through the left side of the infield and brought Wright in with a single.
Malvasio then stole second to bring Gramesty up in a two-out situation. The clutch-hitting Gramesty hit a deep double off the center field wall to put Bethesda back up by two runs.
Right-hander Jack Ketchum (Alabama) relieved Monahan in the fourth inning. In a tough situation, Ketchum gave up three runs to end the inning. He would then give up three more in the fifth frame, which finished his outing. Ketchum struck out one batter over his two innings of work.
Righty Nathan Wines (East Carolina) entered the game in the top of the sixth. He steadied the game for the Big Train throughout his eighth appearance of the season. In his two innings on the Povich Field mound, he didn’t allow a hit and struck out two hitters.
Right-handed pitcher Jordan Capuano (Youngstown State) tried to keep the game close in the eighth inning, but his one inning of work allowed two Senators to score, extending their lead.
In his sixth pitching appearance and first since July 2, Malvasio finished the top of the ninth for the Big Train. He worked out of the 1-2-3 inning to give the Big Train a chance to come back from the three-run hole, however, the bats fell cold for the first time since the winning streak started.
“The nice thing about streaks is they're broken, and new ones start,” Colangelo said.
As the run-in to the Ripken Sr. League playoffs start, the Big Train are ready to start another win streak at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Alexandria Aces at Shirley Povich Field.