IronBirds Top BlueClaws 8-5 in Series Opener Tuesday

JERSEY SHORE, NJ - Maverick Handley drove in four runs as Aberdeen bested the BlueClaws 8-5 on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Park.

The BlueClaws (36-43) saw their three-game winning streak snapped, while Aberdeen (40-38) won their second straight following a six game losing streak.

Phillies pitcher Seranthony Dominguez, with the BlueClaws opening a rehab assignment, retired Aberdeen in order in the first inning with a pair of strikeouts in his first game action since 2019.

The BlueClaws opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a lead-off home run from Nate Fassnacht, his sixth homer of the year. It was also the second time he's led off the first inning with a home run.

After Aberdeen scored twice in the second off Jonathan Hughes, McCarthy Tatum homered in the third to tie the game. Tatum, who joined the BlueClaws from Reading last week, has already hit three homers with Jersey Shore.

The IronBirds answered with two runs in the fifth. Maverick Handley's RBI single gave Aberdeen a 3-2 lead and Jordan Westburg added an RBI single. In the sixth, Handley added another RBI single to put Aberdeen ahead 5-2.

Hughes (3-6) went five innings in relief and allowed five runs on 11 hits to take the loss.

Aberdeen added three more in the seventh, including an RBI single by Gunner Henderson, to go up 8-2. Jersey Shore got two back in the bottom of the inning in an RBI single from Tatum and a SAC fly from Vito Friscia.

Tyler Burch, who was traded to the Orioles on Friday after pitching for the BlueClaws, gave up a run in the ninth in his Orioles debut.

Fassnacht, Tatum, and DJ Stewart all had two hits for the BlueClaws.

The teams continue their series on Wednesday night at 7:05 pm. Click here to order tickets online.

-Jersey Shore BlueClaws-