IronBirds Fall to Staten Island, 7-2, in Series Opener Monday Night

From the Aberdeen IronBirds:

STATEN ISLAND, NY – The IronBirds began their six-game roadtrip on Monday with a loss to the Staten Island Yankees, 7-2. The Yankees plated three runs in the second inning and never looked back on the night.

Following a scoreless first inning, the IronBirds took an early lead. With 1B Doug Bream on first and 2B Jerome Pena on third, 3B Dudley Leonora lined an Evan Rutckyj pitch at 2B Jamiel Orozco. Orozco leaped in the air but the ball deflected off his glove into right field. Pena scored easily from third but Bream was thrown out at second. Leonora’s fielder’s choice gave the Birds a 1-0 lead.

Aberdeen’s lead quickly evaporated in the bottom of the second. 3B Fu-Lin Kuo blasted a one-out, two-run double to center that allowed C Jackson Valera and 2B Jamiel Orozco to score. The Yankees added another run in frame to increase their lead to two runs.

RHP Jaime Esquivel exited the game after just two innings of work. Esquivel surrendered three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two.

After adding another run in the fourth, DH Saxon Butler belted a solo shot to right field. Butler’s second homer of the season put the Yankees in front 5-1.

Staten Island scored two more runs on the night en route to a 7-2 victory over the Birds.

The IronBirds’ second and final run of the night came via a Dudley Leonora groundout in the seventh that SS Joel Hutter scored on.

Evan Rutckyj (1-1) picked up the win on the night while Jaime Esquivel (1-1) got loss.

First pitch of Monday night’s game was delayed 30 minutes due to rain.

Aberdeen and Staten Island return to Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Tuesday night for game two of the three-game series. LHP Jorge Rivera (0-0, 5.40) will start for the IronBirds while the Yankees will turn to RHP Andrew Benak (0-0, 0.00).

First pitch from Staten Island is set for 7:00 p.m. with coverage on the IronBirds Radio Network beginning at 6:45 p.m.