Big Train falls 12-11 to DC Grays on Opening Day

BOX SCORE

ROCKVILLE, Md. —  Despite a dramatic eighth-inning grand slam by Logan Ponnett that helped to erase a six-run deficit, the Bethesda Big Train dropped a 12-11 heartbreaker to the DC Grays on Opening Night.

Left fielder Matt Westley added an RBI double and three walks for the Big Train, and the team accumulated 13 walks in total.

“Great effort by the position players,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “We’ve got to get better with runners in scoring position, reduce the strikeouts a little bit, but we’ll be ok.”

The Grays plated the game’s opening run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Ethan Nagy. In the second, DC added to its lead with an RBI single from designated hitter Joey Chitla, followed by a two-run knock from shortstop Noel Rivera.

Rivera raced home on a wild pitch, but Big Train right-hander Jake Titus bounced back nicely with an inning-ending strikeout to avoid further damage.

The Big Train responded right away in the bottom of the frame. A walk from center fielder Brett Ott started the rally, followed by an RBI double from Westley.

In the top of the third, DC loaded the bases before Jordan Capuano entered the game with two outs, striking out Rivera on a breaking ball to avert any scoring. Titus exited after 2.2 innings pitched, allowing five runs (four earned) and striking out three on 69 pitches.

The Big Train drew a couple of walks in the bottom of the third, but Grays starter Brady Myers got out of the one-out jam, and the score remained 5-1.

In the top of the fourth, a second sacrifice fly from Nagy and an RBI single from second baseman Ryan Soong put DC up by six. The Big Train got out of the inning promptly with a TJ Addonizio double play before readying to hit against right-hander Dean Qira, who replaced Myers for the Grays.

After Westley reached base on an error, the righty retired the next three hitters, keeping the Grays up 7-1 entering the fifth.

Capuano held the Grays scoreless with two strikeouts in the top of the fifth. Left-hander Colin Casey subbed in for the Grays on the mound, and shortstop John Martinez capitalized with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 7-2.

From there, Martinez scored on an error and the Big Train loaded the bases, but a groundout from Ponnett ended the frame.

In the top of the sixth, right-hander Tyler Brashear came in to pitch for the Big Train. Catcher Isaac Ahokovi and right fielder Eli Owens each walked in a run with two outs, but right-hander Michael Devenney picked up a strikeout against Chitla to get out of the inning.

The bottom of the sixth began with an infield single from second baseman Brennon Wright, but Casey retired the next three batters to keep the Big Train scoreless. Devenney pitched a scoreless top of the seventh, retiring Noel Rivera, left fielder Andy Rivera and Nagy.

In the bottom of the inning, the Big Train’s offense came alive, with a single, four walks and a Corbin sacrifice fly to accumulate three runs. The sacrifice fly came against left-hander Andrew Ruggieri, who subsequently picked up a strikeout to end the inning with the score at 9-6.

Michael Madigan III came in to pitch the eighth for the Big Train. The Grays scored two runs on a Noel Rivera double, but first baseman Emilio Gonzalez fought back with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame.

With one out and two runners on, right-hander Jace Szaflarski came into the game. Szaflarski loaded the bases with a Jacob Hauk walk before Ponnett’s grand slam tied the game at 11.

“He squared one up,” Colangelo said. “That’s what we’re trying to do. Bat the ball, square it up and good things happen.”

In the top of the ninth, right-hander Michael Kass came in to pitch for the Big Train with the game all square. Kass walked two batters before being replaced by right-hander Owen Stewart. After allowing a run on a fielder’s choice, the righty promptly struck out Ahokovi to send the game into the bottom of the ninth.

Szaflarski stayed in and retired the first two batters, putting the game in the hands of Gonzalez. The lefty smoked one deep to right-center, but Addonizio made the catch right next to the fence, and the Grays prevailed 12-11.

Today, the Big Train will take on the Olney Cropdusters on the road at 6:30 p.m. The next home game takes place on Sunday, June 8 at 10 a.m. against the Metro South County Braves.