Foster’s Home Run Guides Big Train Past Braves

The Bethesda Big Train (20-6) and FCA Braves (9-17) were only able to play one game of their scheduled doubleheader Saturday afternoon after rain postponed game two's action to a later date. Despite game two being a washout, the day was still a success for Bethesda as they picked up a 4-2 victory in a full nine-inning afternoon game.

The Big Train wasted no time getting on the board as in the bottom of the first Jacob Southern (Jacksonville) recorded his league-leading 27th RBI with a single to score Gio Diaz (St. Mary's CA), giving Bethesda a 1-0 lead. FCA would quickly tie things, however, as in the top of the third Ryan P. Davis (Georgetown) ripped an RBI single to even the score at 1-1.

Bethesda retook the lead in the top of the fifth as Christian Jayne (East Carolina) scored on a wild pitch, but that lead wouldn't last long either as in the top of the sixth FCA tied the game at two when Charlie Ludwick (Eastern Kentucky) scored on an error.

Needing separation Darius Foster (San Francisco) stepped to the plate with Keith Torres III (Sacramento State) on first in the bottom of the sixth. Foster would deliver as he blasted a two-run home run to right field and give the Big Train a 4-2 lead. The home run was Foster's third on the season putting him only behind Southern (6) for the team lead, and the two-run blast would prove to be the decisive blow. 

With starting pitcher Ryan Okuda (Virginia Tech) out of the game after tossing five strong innings, Big Train shut the door. Ryan Metz (Virginia Tech), a returning player from 2018, tossed three innings without giving up an earned run in his 2019 debut, and Chase Lee (Alabama) recorded the save with a perfect ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of the season and lock down the Big Train victory.

With the win, Big Train improved to a perfect 5-0 against the Braves this season. Also, the win was the team's 20th of the season assuring that every team in the Big Train's 21-year history finished the regular season with at least 20 victories.

The second game of the Big Train's doubleheader with FCA has not yet been rescheduled. However, the team will be back in action at home tomorrow night against the Silver-Spring Takoma Thunderbolts at 7 p.m.  It will be jersey night in the ballpark, so wear your favorite jersey, any team and sport.