The Aberdeen IronBirds came into the week as one of the top teams in the league. A strong first half and a good start to the second half had them fighting for first place.
The Jersey Shore BlueClaws came to town and grounded the IronBirds, as they took the series four games to two.
Some weather interfered with game play, and games were moved, which could of had a contributing factor to the series outcome as well.
Darell Hernaiz returns to our stand-out performers, as he was one of the few offensive bright spots in the series.
Collecting five hits across the series, Hernaiz stood out most in the July 14, 5-4 IronBird victory. He would hit his second homer in Aberdeen, while driving in two runs and collecting two walks.
For the season, Hernaiz is now batting .290 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs. He has also stolen 22 bases and holds an OPS of .837.
Shortstop Collin Burns showed out in the series for the IronBirds, collecting hits in four of the five games he played.
On July 16, in the IronBirds’ 6-0 victory, Burns would collect a three-run home run, a walk, two runs scored and four RBIs in leading his team to victory.
For the season, Burns is now hitting .278 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. He has a .342 OBP, which has allowed him to steal 10 bases as well.
Speaking of strong games, the IronBirds’ 6-0 victory featured the best pitching of the series for Aberdeen.
Denyi Reyes, Dan Hammer and Rickey Ramirez would combine to pitch a seven-inning, two-hit shutout. Hammer (3-1) would collect his third win of the season, as he pitched four innings, striking out three.
Hammer is now 5-4 overall with an ERA of 4.79 across 62 innings and 17 games. He has totaled 73 strikeouts, and opponents are batting just .189 against him on the year.
Though Aberdeen lost the series, their second half record stands at 11-10, and they still are in second place. The IronBirds will return to action, as they go visit the last place Greenville Drive starting Friday.
Will the long break benefit Aberdeen as they defend their division crown? Tune in Friday, as the IronBirds take flight again.
Who stood out to you in Aberdeen this week? Let us know in the comments below! And make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook and Twitter, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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