The Vienna Senators had no problems extending their winning streak Thursday night against the Herndon Braves at Waters Field.  The Senators used strong pitching and an opportunistic offense to beat the Braves 5-2 and win their eleventh straight game.  In most of the games during the winning streak, the Senators are playing with the lead, which means that they can play aggressively both offensively and defensively.  The pitchers throw strikes because they know that they have an unbelievable defense behind them and the Senators play aggressive hit and run baseball offensively, which means that they are constantly moving base runners into scoring position.  The Senator coaching staff always put their players in a position to win the ballgame. Tonight was no different.

In the second inning, Guillermo Martinez doubled to move into scoring position.  He then scored when Kevin Hansen hit a single into right field to make the score 1-0.  Hansen moved to second when the right fielder bobbled the ball, but he was stranded when the next two Senators grounded out to end the inning.

The Senators put three more runs on the board in the fourth inning.  Justin Bunkis and AJ Lamonda singled to start the inning.  Bunkis then advanced to second when the Herndon pitcher threw a wild pitch.  One batter later, Martinez singled to score Bunkis and move Lamonda to second.  Bunkis’ run made the score 2-0. Hansen  advanced Lamonda to third and Martinez to second with a groundout to the third baseman.  Martinez then advanced to third and Lamonda scored when the pitcher was called for a balk.  Lamonda’s run made the score 3-0.  Adam Kuchemba finished off the scoring for the Senators in the inning when he drove in Martinez with a sacrifice fly ball to left field.  At the end of the fourth, the Senators had a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Martinez finished off his big night with a solo homerun over the wall in left field to make the score 5-0 after six innings.  Five runs were more than enough for the Senator pitching staff.

Greg Holland gave up only one hit until the Braves scored two runs in the eighth inning, but Brandon McDowell and Will Naylor were able to come in and stifle the Herndon bats.  The Senator pitching staff struck out nine Herndon hitters collectively.

Martinez had the biggest night offensively for the Senators. He almost hit for the cycle by registering a single, a double, and a homerun.  He also scored three runs and drove in two.  Bunkis chipped in with two hits.  The Senators return home tomorrow night when they take on the Braves at Waters Field.  The game is set for 7 p.m.  Come on out to Waters Field and watch the Senators go for their twelfth win in a row!