Extra Inning Thriller: Big Train Defeats Thunderbolts 10-9

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ROCKVILLE, MD — On Saturday night, the Bethesda Big Train pulled off a come from behind win in extra innings against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, 10-9, at Shirley Povich Field.

Bethesda found itself trailing 7-0 when it entered the bottom of the second inning. This didn’t stop second baseman Jordan Crosland (Maryland) from hitting a bomb to dead center to bring home right fielder Chris Diaz (Tulane) and cut the Thunderbolts lead to five.

Designated hitter Jack Guerrero (James Madison) cut the lead again in the third with a single to bring home center fielder Andrew Williamson (Central Florida).

The bats continued to heat up for the Big Train.

In the fourth inning, Crosland reached base with a single and catcher Cole Constable (Quinnipiac) reached with a walk. It didn’t take long for both to be in scoring position as they both advanced a base off a wild pitch. Left fielder Jaden Bastian (Jacksonville) stepped up and hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Crosland. Constable then scored off an error by the catcher on the throw from home, closing the deficit to 7-5.

The score stayed stagnant for two innings thanks to a diving catch by Bastian in the outfield in the fifth inning.

After the Thunderbolts added a run in the seventh inning, the Big Train responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh to find themselves within one run.

Reliever Kevin Scully (James Madison) entered in the eighth inning and held  off the Thunderbolts. Crosland hit a single that brought home third baseman Davin Whitaker (East Carolina), tying up the game.

Scully handed the ball off to Jonathan Stevens (Alabama) to close out the night. Both teams added a run in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

“I had to battle back, trust my stuff and establish the fastball,” said Stevens.

Stevens went three-up, three-down in the tenth inning, giving the Big Train the chance to pull off the win.

“I knew we weren’t going lose that game. Especially, no one was left in the bullpen, I had to carry it out. I knew we were going to win. It was just a matter of time,” said Stevens.

Diaz was hit by a pitch to start off the 10th inning and represented the winning run. The bases were loaded when the Thunderbolts threw a wild pitch and Diaz raced home to earn the walk-off win.

“I was just there trying to be a safe base runner, not get out. It’s a close game, we’re tied up so we’re not really trying to get out or do too much,” said Diaz.

The Big Train takes on the Alexandria Aces at Frank Mann Field Sunday. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. If you can’t join us in-person, watch the game on the livestream below. 

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Notes:  On a blistering hot Saturday night, 383 fans turned out for Star Wars Night for an extra-inning game that lasted three hours and 46 minutes. It was manager Sal Colangelo's birthday…. First pitches were thrown out by player host families as part of Host Family Appreciation night… The Chick-fil-A cow also threw out a first pitch…Big Train honored Tommy Raskin Seniors to Seniors Foundation Senior Dog Sancturary as our Community Hero. On Saturday morning, Big Train players and summer interns collected food for the Manna Food Center at six Giant Food stores. Players from the Gaithersburg Giants and Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts also participated in the Ripken League’s annual food collection drive, netting 3,183 pounds of food for Manna.