Big Train Bats Explode for 19 Runs in Dominant Win versus the Giants

by Alex Rubinson

Postgame Meeting

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Big Train rolled over the Gaithersburg Giants 19-11 on Wednesday. John Martinez (Florida Atlantic University), Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic University) and Josh Skowronski (Winthrop University) each led the way with three hits in the blowout win. The Big Train has tallied 39 runs in their last two combined games.

“Hitting with runners in scoring position and not falling behind [is key],” Manager Sal Colangelo said. “The biggest thing is we’re more comfortable. We’re doing all the right things right now.”

Tanner Kaler (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) got the starting nod for the Big Train. Kaler got off to a fast start, striking out leadoff man Danny Orr with a nasty slider. Kaler then worked himself into a jam. He allowed a single and issued two walks plus a hit by pitch. With the bases juiced, Kaler induced a ground ball up the middle. Brennon Wright (South Alabama) made a sliding stop to get the out at second but a run scored on the fielder’ choice. With two outs, Kaler had picked off the runner at first but was called for a balk, which forced a second run to score. The lefty finished the frame like he started with a strikeout.

A Wright walk, Brett Ott (Sacramento State) single and Martinez bunt hit loaded the bases with nobody out for Gonzalez. The slugger hit it past the first baseman’s mitt for a two-run double, but the throw into second base got away, allowing the third run to score and Gonzalez to advance to third. Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch later in the inning. Later in the frame, Skowronski lined a single that the right fielder could not come up with. Matt Westley made the first out of the inning but still drove in the sixth run of the frame. Wright golfed a double down the line for his second plate appearance in the inning. With the bases loaded again, Martinez delivered a sacrifice fly making it an eight-run first inning.

Emilio Gonzalez by Mark Thalman

“We’re swinging it well,” Skowronski said. “We’re being aggressive.”

Kaler appeared to have settled in after getting a groundout and a strikeout to open up the second. The lefty then lost the zone with two outs. He surrendered two walks and two hit by pitches, one with the bases loaded. The Giants paired two singles along with the free passes to score three runs in the frame.

The Big Train responded immediately. Peyton Steele led off with a double, and Skowronski drove him in with another knock. With the bases loaded, Wright pounded a two-run single. After a run-scoring grounder by Ott, and a John Martinez single, the Big Train made it 13 runs in two innings of play.

“Josh has been swinging it well over the last week or so,” Colangelo said. “He was hitting it hard right at people. Today it fell for him. For him to do what he’s doing, it’s not uncharacteristic.”

Josh Skowronski by Mark Thalman

James Gladden (University of Maryland) retired the Giants in order in the third thanks to a smooth double play by the Big Train’s middle infield. Colangelo’s lineup added one more in the third with Westley’s RBI single.

In the fourth, Gladden worked himself into a two-out jam, as he issued a walk and hit a batter. The righty induced a ground ball to shortstop, but Martinez could not make the play, which allowed two runners to touch home plate. The Big Train still was doubling up the Giants 14-7.

The Big Train got both runs back in the bottom half of the inning. Jacob Hauk (University of Maryland) led off with a double. After the Giants defense couldn’t make two plays, Gonzalez made them pay and blasted a two-run double.

Michael Madigan (George Mason University) relieved Gladden in the fifth. He worked around a single and an error to prevent any damage. He recorded a strikeout looking and swinging in the frame. The bottom of the fifth was the first frame in which the Big Train were unable to score.

Logan Ponnett (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) could not make the play to start the sixth. The Giants capitalized with Aaron Babaev doubling home Andrew Holub. Madigan weathered the storm and didn’t allow any further damage to keep it at a seven-run cushion. The first two members of the Big Train were retired before Martinez and Gonzalez reached base to keep the inning alive. Steele registered a double off the left field wall for two more runs.

Logan Ponnett by Mark Thalman

The Giants manufactured a run in the seventh. Madigan issued two walks before the Giants executed a double steal. Holub’s ground ball got Gaithersburg into double digits for the night. The bottom half of the inning was extended due to a throwing error by Giants second baseman Brady Powell. Ott dropped a bloop hit to score Hauk to go up 19-10.

Russell Petersen (Whitman College) came in for Madigan. Petersen surrendered a run-scoring triple to Ryan Maxey with one out but worked out of a jam to limit the damage. The right fielder, Steele, caught the second out of the inning and made a strong throw to home to hold the runner at third. Although Gonzalez singled to kickstart the inning, a double play and grounder resulted in the first time all night the Big Train were retired in order.

Michael Kass (University of Central Florida) got the call for the ninth inning. He worked around a two-out base hit to shut the door for the Big Train. Kass ended the contest with a strikeout looking and froze Ethan McNally.

The Big Train will be on the road to face the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts today at 8 p.m. They will return home for a doubleheader against the Alexandria Aces on Saturday with game one starting at 4 p.m.