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Health & Fitness

6/22: IronBirds-Cyclones Game Preview

After dropping the 2nd game of the 3-game series against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday night 2-4, The Aberdeen IronBirds (0-5) will take on the Cyclones (2-2) on Saturday night at MCU Park, looking to avoid being swept by the Cyclones, and record win #1 of the season before heading to Staten Island for a 3-game set to end the road trip. 

Last night the IronBirds got an outstanding start from LHP Stephen Brault in his IronBirds and professional debut ( 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K) while Aberdeen jumped out to a 2-0 after an RBI single to score Trey Mancini (2-4) from Austin Wynns in the top of the 2nd and a RBI single to score Jeff Kemp from Hector Veloz in the top of the 5th.

After allowing the first two on base in the top of the 6th, RHP Janser Severino ( 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K's- also got the L) came into the game for Brault, and the Cyclones scored both of the runners Brault left on base with an RBI Double from  L.J Mazzilli (2-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI) and a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. The Cyclones then put up two more in the 7th Inning off of an RBI single from Patrick Biondi (2-5, 1  R, 1 RBI) and an RBI walk for L.J Mazzilli to put the score at 4-2 Cyclones.  Cyclones reliever Akeel Morris was phenomenal out of the bullpen (3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K), as he kept Brooklyn in the game after replacing Cyclones starter Carlos Valdez ( 5 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K) down 0-2 in the 6th Inning, and earned a deserved W, while LHP John Mincone got a save in his 2nd straight game after recording the final out.

IRONBIRDS LINE-UP 6/22: CF Barber, SS Breen, DH Veloz, 1B Mancini, 3B Richards, LF Kimmel, RF Hernandez, C Kalush, 2B Kemp, SP Vader

Tonight, Sebastian Vader gets the start for the IronBirds, and will look for his 1st win his 2nd start of the season. The 21-year-old from San Marcos, California was very solid in the season opener against Hudson Valley, going 5 Innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits with zero walks and 3 K's, but took the L. 

Seth Lugo, who's start was pushed back a day, will now make the start on Saturday for the Cyclones. Lugo, 23, was a 34th round pick by the New York Mets in the 2011 MLB draft, and went 5-2 with a 3.66 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) for the Kingsport Mets (Rk) in 2011 before missing all of the 2012 season. 

Now, here's a couple of notes on the game last night and the game today:

- The RBI single from Austin Wynns in the 2nd Inning was his 1st professional RBI

- Jeff Kemp recorded his first hit of the season last night! It was also the 1st hit of his professional career! ( He got a stolen base last night too, also his first!)

- 3B Hector Veloz is on fire. Through the first 5 games of the season, he is 9 for 19 (.474) with 2 2B, 1 HR, and 4 RBI, and as a result, is going into the game tonight with a 5-game hitting streak. 

- Kris Richards is heating up, as he has 4 hits in his last 7 at-bats!

- After recording another 9 K's last night, the IronBirds pitching staff leads the NYPL in K's with 48.

- Manny Hernandez recorded the IronBirds 1st outfield assist last night, gunning down Jared King in the 1st Inning, who was trying to stretch a single into a double.

- Jimmy Yacabonis pitched a scoreless 8th Inning for Aberdeen last night, and pitched well to get out of a 2nd and 3rd with 1 out jam without allowing a run to score

- Last nights attendance at MCU Park was 7,750!

That's all for now IronBirds Nation! Check back a little bit closer to first pitch for tonight's IronBirds Line-up, and until then, take it easy and enjoy this awesome weather before the game tonight!

                                                            - Logan Quick

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