Big Train steamrolls Grays 21-8 for second straight blowout win

by Calvin Kaplan

Parker Corbin by Sara Burr

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The Bethesda Big Train dominated the DC Grays Monday, avenging an Opening Day loss with a blowout 21-8 win.

“We swung the bat well,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “It all clicked. They played hard. Great effort.”

The team was led by 3+ RBI days from right fielder Peyton Steele (Alabama), first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic), left fielder Matt Westley (Undecided) and third baseman Parker Corbin (Maryland). Gonzalez had a 3-for-5 day at the plate, marking his second three-hit game in as many days.

“It’s all about adjustments and believing in yourself,” Gonzalez said.

To start the game, Grays right-hander Drew Norton held the Big Train scoreless in the top of the first, but right-hander Jake Titus (Kansas City Kansas CC) matched Norton in the bottom of the frame.

In the second, Gonzalez drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to give the Big Train a 1-0 lead. The Grays brought home three runs in response, but catcher Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic) responded immediately with a hard-hit single to begin the top of the third.

Murphy scored on a fielder’s choice from center fielder Alex Peltier (East Carolina), and second baseman John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) beat out an infield single soon after. Martinez stole second, and designated hitter Logan Ponnett (North Carolina Charlotte) added a walk, bringing up Steele.

Steele cashed in with a two-RBI double to give the Big Train the lead. Gonzalez drove him in with a single, and Westley walloped a double to bring Gonzalez to third. That set up Corbin, who crushed a three-run homer down the right-field line to put the Big Train ahead 8-3.

“It feels really good,” Corbin said. “Just trying to stick back to my approach, be aggressive and hunt the pitch I like.”

After a Murphy single, the Grays brought in left-hander Dean Qira, who managed to quell further damage. Right-hander Jordan Capuano (Frederick CC) entered to pitch the bottom of the third for the Big Train, and the Grays scored one run to make it an 8-4 game.

In the top of the fourth, shortstop Brennon Wright (South Alabama) came home on a fielder’s choice. Gonzalez followed that up by scorching a single to right field, increasing the Big Train lead to six.

Capuano came out hot in the bottom of the fourth, with two strikeouts mixed into a scoreless inning. After a couple of Big Train walks to start the fifth, Peltier laid down a textbook bunt, showing off incredible speed as he raced down the first-base line to load the bases. Soon after, Wright’s fielder’s choice brought another run across.

In the latter half of the fifth, the Big Train made some defensive switches, bringing Josh Skowronski (Winthrop) into left field, Westley to third and Corbin to second. The Grays plated four runs to pull closer, but the Big Train still led 11-8 entering the sixth inning.

A Steele walk and Gonzalez single set up another run on a Westley fielder’s choice. In the bottom of the frame, right-hander Michael Kass (Central Florida) came in to pitch, striking out two batters to hold the Grays without a run.

Right-hander James Pedas took the mound for the Grays entering the seventh, and the Big Train capitalized. Wright reached first on an infield single and raced to second on an error, scoring Peltier. After a Gonzalez sacrifice fly and a Westley two-RBI triple, the Big Train led 16-8, and left-hander Colin Casey replaced Pedas.

The offensive explosion continued. After a Corbin hit-by-pitch and a Murphy walk, Westley tore home to score on a wild pitch, giving the Big Train a nine-run lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, lefty Lucas Marrero (Lynchburg) came on to pitch. Marrero held the Grays scoreless, striking out Carter Jenkins to end the inning.

A Wright single started the eighth, and Steele drove him home on a sacrifice fly to give the Big Train an 18-8 lead. Right-hander Owen Stewart (George Mason) pitched a scoreless bottom half of the frame, sending both teams into the ninth.

Westley scored on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly from Wright gave the Big Train a 20-8 advantage. A Ponnett RBI single added to the onslaught, and Stewart pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure a 21-8 victory.

Up next, the Big Train will travel to Frank Mann Field to face the Alexandria Aces on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. After that, the team will return home on Thursday to take on the Olney Cropdusters at 7:00 p.m.