Alexandria Aces to Play Big Train Tuesday Night

Editor’s note: Post courtesy of Alexandria Aces:

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Things are going from bad to worse for the Aces right now.

Losers of four straight, the Aces (7-12) will play the Big Train (18-3) tonight for the second time in three days, with the Redbirds on the horizon. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. but if fans cannot make it, they can tune in to Aces Radio or follow the Aces on Twitter.

The same problems continue to plague this team. Offensively, the Aces only plated two runs last night in the first eight innings. A small ninth-inning rally scored three more to cut the lead to just three runs, but the magic ran out too soon. Defensively, the Aces have committed 12 errors over the last five games and haven’t had an error-free game since June 19th, an eight game stretch.

Last night against the Express, the Aces unraveled in the sixth inning, giving up six runs on eight hits and one error. From there, the home team could not battle back and dropped the fourth game in a row.

Alexandria will try to break the losing streak tonight against the best team in the Cal Ripken League. The Big Train are 9-1 in its last 10 games and have not lost in all 10 games on the road. The memory of the walk-off win for Bethesda is still fresh in the minds of Aces players and fans alike and the Aces already have another matchup with the Big Train.

Wade McNabb will take the mound for the Aces tonight against the Big Train. McNabb (Stetson) gets his second start of the season in his seventh appearance. He started out the year as a late-game reliever, throwing only one inning in each of his first five outings. Since then, McNabb has appeared in the rotation, pitching three no-decision innings in his first start of the year at the Dodgers. McNabb has eight innings pitched with nine Ks and four walks. He has given up six hits but no earned runs.

The Big Train probable pitcher is Tim Yandel. Yandel, a senior RHP out of Tulane, will get his fifth start of the season. Yandel has a 2-0 record with a 1.45 ERA in four appearances. He has struck out 25 batters and only walked three in his 24.2 innings pitched. Yandel has gone at least five innings in each of his four starts. He started the June 7th matchup when the Big Train picked up a 2-0 win over the Aces in Bethesda.

The Aces need to find ways to win ball games and need to find those ways soon. The South division stays open for second place and the Aces have looked good at times this season. The key will be putting everything together.

Come on out to Frank Mann Field and enjoy a beautiful night of baseball, cheering the Aces to victory!