Devenney overcomes travel troubles, boosts Big Train to fifth straight win

by Calvin Kaplan

Michael Devenney by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. — On Wednesday, Michael Devenney was all set to start for the Bethesda Big Train in game two of a seven-inning doubleheader against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts.

Then, his car broke down.

“It was an adventure to get here today,” Devenney said.

After his car got towed, the right-hander from Tulane took a 40-minute Uber to arrive at Shirley Povich Field. Then, he stepped up big-time, firing five innings of two-run ball and guiding the Big Train to a 5-3 victory.

“When you can move the ball around and change eye levels and keep guys off-balance, as hitters, you can struggle,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “And that’s what [Devenney] did. They never really got comfortable.”

The Big Train’s trusted righty took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and was dominant throughout, mixing up his pitches successfully and holding the Thunderbolts to three hits during his appearance. With a gritty eight-hit effort from the offense, the team managed to pick up enough RBIs for a doubleheader sweep, winning its 15th game in 18 contests.

“It’s one of the three things we talk about: executing the fundamentals,” Colangelo said. “They’re not selfish. They’re team guys, and they drive them in.”

One of those team guys was first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Undecided), who put up a 2-for-3 day with a walk and an RBI. In doing so, Gonzalez continued his hot hitting streak, moving up to a team-leading .392 batting average among players with at least 10 at-bats.

“Before, I was very pushy with my hands,” Gonzalez said. “Now I’m getting to the slot where I’m hitting the ball harder, for more power, and that’s just been it, being less pushy.”

Multi-hit days from Gonzalez, second baseman Brennon Wright (South Alabama) and designated hitter Matt Westley (Undecided) were crucial. But the win wouldn’t have been possible without Devenney’s performance on the hill.

“Threw a lot of cutters,” Devenney said. “It’s just different enough than the fastball to keep guys a little off-balance.”

And it wasn’t just the cutter that was clicking on Wednesday.

“Everything was working for strikes: fastball, cutter, slider and changeup,” Devenney said. “I think what really helped was — after the third inning — when the top of the order came back around, we started throwing the changeups to righties. Just keep them off-balance, show them a pitch they haven’t seen yet.”

With a 16-6 record, the Bethesda Big Train is in a tier of its own, sitting three games above the next-best teams in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. It’ll look to continue its hot streak on the road today against the Olney Cropdusters at 6:30 p.m. After that, the team will return home on Saturday to face the Gaithersburg Giants at 7 p.m.

Click HERE to read the full inning-by-inning recap of Wednesday’s win!