Red-hot hitting fuels Big Train to eight-run blowout over Giants

by Calvin Kaplan

Josh Skowronski (left) and Brett Ott by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Staring down a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the first, Bethesda Big Train players were undoubtedly hoping for a quick comeback.

They got their wish — and then some — in a hurry.

Powered by a monstrous eight-run first inning, the Big Train smoked the Gaithersburg Giants 19-11 on Wednesday at Shirley Povich Field. Multi-hit days from six different players helped the team achieve its second straight win, allowing it to build significant momentum while moving toward a weekend with two scheduled doubleheaders.

“We’re doing all the right things right now,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “We’ve just got to clean up some of the baserunning, some of the defense and work ahead more with throwing strikes.”

With 39 runs in its past two games, the bats for the Big Train have seemed as scorching-hot as the weather in Rockville. With three-hit days from first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic), shortstop John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) and designated hitter Josh Skowronski (Winthrop), the team was sitting pretty offensively on Wednesday. It led 13-5 after just the second inning of play.

“I think we’re swinging it well,” Skowronski said. “We’re being aggressive, hitting fastballs. I think we just need to stick with that.”

Amid the collective teamwide hitting tear, second baseman Brennon Wright (South Alabama) has continued to shine. Wright’s 2-for-5 day against the Giants marked his fourth multi-hit game in a row and fifth with at least one RBI. Wright didn’t miss a beat despite moving up to leadoff in place of regular center fielder Alex Peltier.

“I think everybody’s starting to get back into the rhythm of things,” Wright said.

Colangelo’s batting lineup is looking more dangerous by the day, as it’s obvious Big Train players are a threat all throughout the order. Out of the 12 players on the team with at least 20 at-bats, seven are above .300 in batting average, and 11 are hitting at least .255. Both Gonzalez and regular center fielder Alex Peltier (East Carolina) sit at a neat .400 on the season.

There’s nobody to pitch around. For opposing pitchers, there’s nowhere to hide. As of late, most of them have had no choice but to accept constant shellacking.

“We’re being patient at the plate,” Wright said.

Sitting at 10-5 and winners of nine of 11, Big Train players and coaches have nothing but momentum on their side. The team will seek to continue that today at 8 p.m. on the road against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. Its next home affair is scheduled as a doubleheader on Saturday, with Game 1 beginning at 4 p.m. against the Alexandria Aces.

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