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Big Train Rout Grays 14-1 in Rain-Delayed Contest
Bethesda Big Train First Baseman Emilio Gonzalez (46) stands in the batter’s box during first game of a doubleheader against the DC Grays at Shirley Povich Field on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. [CORRECTION - Gonzalez wore No. 45 before switching to No. 46 on June 26.] (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
BETHESDA, Md. — The Bethesda Big Train (13-8) returned to Shirley Povich Field on Saturday afternoon to battle through the rain for the first leg of a doubleheader against the DC Grays (7-13). The teams only played six innings in the first game of the contest.
Bethesda came into Saturday afternoon’s games with momentum, having won six of their last seven games, including Friday night’s 10-0 shutout win over the Gaithersburg Giants. The Grays, on the other hand, fell in their previous three games and lost an 11-inning thriller against the Southern Maryland Senators on Friday night.
The two teams in Saturday afternoon’s contest had only faced off one time this season, as outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) previously powered two balls over the wall in a 10-0 victory.
Starting left-handed pitcher Talin Gardini (Cal St. Fullerton) started off strong, striking out the first two batters faced and forcing a groundout to go three-up, three-down to kick the afternoon off.
The hitting also got going early, as infielder Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) fired a single into right-center field. First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) matched him with a single of his own, moving Wright to third.
Wright found his way home on a passed ball by the Grays, giving the Big Train the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. DC responded with a home run to open the top of the second inning, but Gardini responded, recording a strikeout and working a full-count groundout to end the inning.
The rain picked up in between innings, and a delay halted play. The rain stopped, and Big Train fans stayed to support the team and saw primary outfielder Jackson Mirza (University of South Florida) step onto the mound to relieve Gardini. 
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Talin Gardini (43) pitches during first game of a doubleheader against the DC Grays at Shirley Povich Field on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Gardini ended his afternoon with 35 pitches through two innings for 21 strikes and three strikeouts, one hit and one run.
Mirza was unaffected by the delay, striking out the first batter he faced, forcing a flyout and a groundout to end the inning only facing three batters.
The offense rewarded Big Train fans with an outfielder Cal Johnson (University of Maryland) home run on the second pitch in the bottom of the third inning. Johnson’s blast gave Bethesda a 3-1 lead.
The Big Train continued, extending their lead starting with back-to-back walks from Wright and Gonzalez. Wright found his way home for the second time of the game off of an error by the Grays’ shortstop for two bases.
Bethesda then loaded the bases on a primary catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic University) hit-by-pitch, and the Big Train continued bringing runs in. Gonzalez came home on infielder Casey Carpenter’s (UNC Wilmington) full-count walk.
Infielder Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) reached first on an error, scoring another run and pushing the lead to 6-1 for the Big Train. Bethesda managed one more run before the end of the inning, as catcher Jack Gagen (Tusculum University) singled to right field, scoring Gramesty and ending the third inning with a 7-1 lead.
Neither team could find a run in the fourth or fifth innings, and right-handed reliever Kyzer Smith (Florida Atlantic University) came into the game in the top of the sixth inning to finish the first game of the doubleheader. He continued the strong defensive performance, going three-up, three-down in his first inning. 
Bethesda Big Train Right Fielder Zachary Malvasio (37) swings his bat during the first game of a doubleheader against the DC Grays at Shirley Povich Field on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Johnson led off for the Big Train with his second home run of the game, firing a ball just over the glove of the leaping right fielder to extend the Bethesda lead to 8-1. Once again, the Big Train loaded the bases, this time with two walks and a hit-by-pitch, continuing to increase its lead with a Gramesty single to left.
Bethesda did not stop there, tacking on another run as Carpenter walked on a full count, scoring Malvasio and making the score 10-1 for Bethesda. Corbin also walked on a full count, and Gagen hit a sac fly, which tallied the score to 12-1 for the Big Train.
The Big Train put the game away with the final at-bat of the contest, a first-pitch double into center field that scored two runners and ended the game with a 14-1 mercy rule.
The Big Train returns to Shirley Povich Field Sunday evening to take on the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., and tickets can be purchased on the Big Train website.