Even as team owner Cal Ripken Jr. prepares for his induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, the Aberdeen IronBirds are taking some tough bounces in the New York-Penn League. Through Monday, the Orioles Short Season Single-A affiliate was on a three-game slide and had fallen into last place in the McNamara Division with a 5-9 record.

“We have had good pitching the last two nights,” Aberdeen manager Andy Etchebarren said Monday. “We have gotten guys in scoring position and we need to hit some guys around.”

Against the Brooklyn Cyclones Sunday and Monday night, Aberdeen has stranded 20 runners on base and lost games, 3-2 and 6-3, respectively. Hitting the ball has not been a problem, with Aberdeen averaging more than eight hits a game. Etchebarren said he needs his kids to execute their situational hitting.

“They have got to relax,” Etchebarren said. “They can't say, 'Oh jeez, I have got to drive this run in,' It is not going to happen if they start doing that.”

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He said he blames that pressing mentality for the team’s 115 strikeouts through 14 games.

“We have had good pitching and been in situations to win,” said outfielder Matt Angle, an Ohio State product who is batting .268 for the IronBirds with a team-best 11 walks and six stolen bases. “We just have to take it and look at things we can do better. If you sit here and dwell on it, it can happen again and things start to snowball.”

Pitching has been the pleasant surprise for Aberdeen so far. Combined, IronBirds pitchers are second in the NYPL in strike outs with 118 through Monday and are allowing opposing batters a .246 average, but have also given up the second most walks in the league with 62.

“Our bullpen is going to be alright,” Etchebarren said. “With the starting pitching I am concerned how deep we get into games. If we don't get deep enough the bullpen is going to get worn out.”

Aberdeen starts a six-game road trip Wednesday and will return home July 11 against the Williamsport Crosscutters.