Willems hits 3 HR, Chace racks up 15 strikeouts in IronBirds series split with Blue Rocks

By Michael Marcantonini

The Aberdeen IronBirds split a six-game series with the Wilmington Blue Rocks last week in their first homestand of the 2024 season. The IronBirds outscored the Blue Rocks 33-26 in the series and are now 4-5 through nine game this season.

The IronBirds dominated their home opener with a 4-0 win in Game 1. Moises Chace fired four scoreless innings with a career-high-tying nine strikeouts in his High-A debut and Juan Nunez added 4 2/3 scoreless frames in relief in his season debut. Creed Willems and Matthew Etzel each hit a solo home run, Enrique Bradfield Jr. threw out a runner at the plate, and the IronBirds stole five bases in the win. The Blue Rocks bounced back in Game 2, never trailed, and won 6-2. The Birds had a quiet night at the plate, but Tavian Josenberger went 3-for-4 with three singles and a stolen base while Hudson Haskin smacked a two-run double. Zach Fruit picked up four strikeouts in four innings of one-run ball in his professional debut and Hayden Nierman went 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

It was the IronBirds’ turn to answer in Game 3, and they did with nine runs on 10 hits in a 9-1 win. Willems opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a three-run homer to left and the Birds never looked back. Etzel went 5-for-5 with a double, four singles, and two runs in his first career five-hit game. Etzel became the first IronBird with five hits in a game since 2023, when Jackson Holliday did it twice. Cameron Weston and Edgar Portes teamed up to hold the Blue Rocks to only one run on three hits. Weston turned in a career-best outing with five shutout innings, no hits, no walks, and tied his career-high with nine strikeouts. Portes finished the job with a four-inning save.

The series’ back-and-forth trend continued as the Blue Rocks won 9-4 in Game 4. Wilmington scored three runs in the first inning and pulled away with five in the seventh to end the Birds’ comeback bid. Adam Retzbach hit an RBI double, Elio Prado had two hits and an RBI, and Deivy Cruz racked up four strikeouts out of the bullpen in the loss. The two teams combined for 25 walks and 21 strikeouts in the game. Wilmington pulled away late with a 6-4 win in Game 5 to take a lead in the series. The game was tied 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning when the Blue Rocks brought home the eventual winning run, then added an insurance run in the ninth. Randy Florentino hit an RBI double and an RBI single, Willems had two more hits and homered in his third straight game, Bradfield added two hits, and Josenberger reached base safely four times. Bradley Brehmer gave up just one hit and one run in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

Aberdeen broke out the bats in a big way in Game 6 and slugged its way to a 10-4 win in the series finale. The Blue Rocks scored a run in the top of the first, but Nunez limited the damage, then his offense went to work. After they were held scoreless in the first inning of each of their first eight games, the Birds exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the first, something that last year’s star-studded team never did. Aberdeen totaled six hits and three walks and sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning. They added three more runs later in the game and finished with a season-high 10 runs and 11 hits. Jalen Vasquez smoked an RBI double and an RBI triple, and reached safely in all four of his plate appearances. Bradfield had two hits, including a triple, and made a diving catch in center field. Willems added two hits and two RBI, and Reed Trimble had a double and two RBI. Chace shined again with four more hitless, scoreless innings and added six strikeouts. Chace finished the week with eight shutout innings and a 15/2 K/BB ratio.

The IronBirds open a six-game road series at Hudson Valley on Tuesday, April 23, then return home for six games against the Jersey Shore Blue Claws from Tuesday through Sunday, April 23-28. The upcoming homestand features the 2nd Bark in the Park night presented by Dogtopia of Bel Air on Saturday, April 27th, along with Sunday Family Funday presented by Macaroni Kid - Bel Air and Military Appreciation Sunday presented by Leidos on Sunday April 28th! Every Sunday home game includes pregame Catch on the Field and postgame Kids Run the Bases presented by The Highlands School. To purchase tickets and find more information about upcoming games and promotions, head over to www.goironbirds.com or call 410-297-9292.

Opened in 2002, the IronBirds are owned by Cal Ripken, Jr. and Bill Ripken, Aberdeen natives, and play High-A professional minor league baseball in the South Atlantic League as a Baltimore Orioles affiliate. 2024 will be the 22nd year and 22nd season of IronBirds baseball. For more information, visit www.goironbirds.com or visit IronBirds social media.

Contact: Nate Laws, Manager, Marketing & Communications

410-297-8815 | [email protected]