Recap: Big Train tops Thunderbolts 5-3 to secure doubleheader sweep

by Calvin Kaplan

James Gladden by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Bethesda Big Train came through with a seven-inning doubleheader sweep on Wednesday, winning 5-3 against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at home.

The team was led by multi-hit days from first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Undecided), second baseman Brennon Wright (South Alabama) and designated hitter Matt Westley (Undecided). On the bump, right-hander Michael Devenney (Tulane) led the charge with five solid innings, allowing just two runs on three hits alongside three strikeouts.

“I’ve gotta say, today was probably one of the first days that everything was working,” Devenney said. “Wasn’t really getting a lot of called strikes on the corners, so I was just trying to go to the middle of the zone, let the movement of all the pitches do the work.”

The righty started the top of the first with an eight-pitch 1-2-3 inning. Immediately, the Big Train pounced in the bottom of the frame, picking up a quick RBI single from designated hitter Matt Westley (Undecided).

Devenney fired a 1-2-3 second as well, headlined by an acrobatic line-drive catch from shortstop John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) to end the inning. After a scoreless bottom of the second from Silver Spring, Devenney sent down three more batters in order, inducing a swinging strikeout for the last out of the frame.

In the latter half of the inning, Wright, Gonzalez and left fielder Josh Skowronski (Winthrop) all smacked RBI singles. After a fielder’s choice from Martinez to drive in a run, the Big Train took a commanding 5-0 lead.

Devenney held the Thunderbolts hitless in the fourth, adding on his second strikeout of the day. After a scoreless bottom of the inning, Silver Spring brought home a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, cutting its deficit to 5-2.

The Big Train didn’t score in the latter half, and in the top of the sixth, the team brought in left-hander Michael Madigan (George Mason) to replace Devenney. The Thunderbolts scored one run to get within two, and after a no-run bottom of the inning, the Big Train put in right-hander James Gladden (Maryland) to try for the save. Gladden promptly struck out two and held Silver Spring hitless to secure the win.

Following its fifth consecutive victory, the Big Train will play on the road today against the Olney Cropdusters at 6:30 p.m. After that, the team will return home on Saturday to square off against the Gaithersburg Giants at 7 p.m.