The ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Dirty Birds allowed five runs over the final three innings in falling 5-2 to the Lexington Counter Clocks at home in the Atlantic League on Friday at GoMart Ballpark.
The Dirty Birds (2-9) had a shutout going through six innings, leading 1-0. However, they gave up one run in the seventh inning and two more each in the eighth and ninth innings.
ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä staring pitcher Danny Wirchansky hurled a solid six innings, not allowing a run. He scattered five hits with five strikeouts and no walks, but didn’t factor into the decision after the bullpen blew the lead.
The Dirty Birds scored first, tallying a run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Luis Atiles hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Daniel Brito.
After Lexington rallied to score the next five runs late, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä added its second run in the ninth inning. Zachary Bridges hit a RBI single to score Atiles.
Atiles was the lone Dirty Birds player with a multi-hit game, going 2 for 2, with a walk added in too. ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä left 12 runners on base and struck out 12 times.
Logan Brown was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate with an RBI for Lexington (9-4) and Ronnie Dawson collected three hits and drove in a run.
The two teams will play game two of their three game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with the finale on Sunday.
