Big Train drops offensive battle to Giants, 10-8

BOXSCORE

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Bethesda Big Train fell to the Gaithersburg Giants in a narrow, 10-8, contest Wednesday night. The Big Train consistently responded to the Giants’ offensive outburst, but it couldn’t come up with the final blow.

The bats were hot early for both teams. After Gaithersburg put up four runs in the top of the second inning, Bethesda quickly countered with three of its own. Designated hitter Jordan Crosland (Maryland) hit a two RBI single, and center fielder Andrew Williamson (Central Florida) added another run with an RBI double. Williamson had four hits on the day, including two doubles — his team-leading sixth and seventh of the season.

After the Giants put up another five runs in the third and fourth innings, Bethesda once again fought back. In the fourth inning, Williamson reached with a single, and right fielder Davin Whitaker (East Carolina) brought him home with a double. A few batters later, Matthew Westley launched a three-run homer, his second of the season.

“It felt good,” Westley said. “I saw it well and put the barrel on the bat and it went out, so that was nice.”

After Westley’s bomb, both offenses quieted down, and the relief pitchers took control of the game. Will Clements (Tulane), Jonathan Stevens (Alabama), and Kevin Scully (James Madison) entered in relief for the Big Train, and they kept the Giants at bay.

“I was just trying to throw strike one,” Stevens said. “We were down by a couple runs, so I was trying to put up zeros as best as I could.”

Just as both offenses started the game hot, they matched each other again when they cooled off as no more runs scored in the last three innings. The Big Train had a couple base runners, but it couldn’t convert them into runs despite getting some solid contact..

“I think we just left some hits out there and missed some pitches that we should have hit,” Westley said. “We were hitting the ball hard, and it just wasn’t getting through. I think if we keep staying consistent and putting the ball on the bat that it will start falling and we’ll have a lot better games throughout.”

While the Big Train fell short against the Giants, it showed promise at the plate and on the mound. With more consistency, the Big Train is confident it will right the ship.

“I think we’re playing a lot better baseball than we have in the last couple weeks,” Stevens said. “It’s just a matter of time before we start doing better, and I think once the pitching staff comes along and starts putting up zeros, we’re winning every game.”

The Big Train takes on the Cropdusters tomorrow night at Shirley Povich Field. First pitch is at 7 p.m.

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Notes: On Wednesday night, 931 fans packed Shirley Povich Field for a game that lasted three hours and 27 minutes.… It was the Third Annual Clarence “Pint” Isreal Juneteenth Classic. Big Train gave out 600 baseball cards telling the story of “Pint” Isreal, Montgomery County’s greatest Negro Leagues star…. Memorabilia was on display from the Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball and collector Don Conway.… Individual Big Train Community Heroes Ike and Catherine Leggett each threw out a ceremonial first pitch.… Others throwing out a first pitch were the night's other Community Heroes Kimberly Harris and Rashood Crosoon, Jr. from the Montgomery County NAACP Youth Council and Scotland Eagles' Third Baseman Eddie Dove.… The night was sponsored by Lafayette Federal Credit Union, David and Mikel Blair Family Foundation, Emory Grove United Methodist Church & Heritage Emory Grove Community Development Corporation, Scotland Storm, and National Center for Children & Families…. Special guests also throwing out a first pitch were County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, County Council Member Laurie-Anne Sayles, Montgomery Police Chief Marcus Jones, Maryland Senator Cheryl Kagan, Maryland Senator Brian Feldman, Maryland Delegate Greg Wims, Steven Dorsey and Don Conway from the Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball, Big Train Historian Bill Hickman, and the grandson of Pint, Hasani Isreal…. Big Train saluted LaTisha Gasaway-Paul from the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival for providing the first ever fireworks at a Big Train game…. During the game Big Train president Bruce Adams joined Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich to present COMMUNITY HERO Big Train jerseys to former County Executive and First Lady Ike and Catherine Leggett…. Between innings, Bruce interviewed Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton, NAACP president Linda Plummer, and Commanders’ Keandre Jones.