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Bowie Baysox

Costly errors lead to Baysox demise

August 24, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Bowie Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Baysox made a valiant comeback down four runs in the fifth inning, but crucial errors helped Altoona walk away with a 7-6 victory. The Baysox walked in three runs, allowed another to score on a balk and committed three errors as they drop to 64-62 on the season.

"It seems like everybody is sliding at the same time," first baseman Eric Crozier said. "To be down four and come back to take the lead, it's disappointing."

Right-hander Brandon Erbe took the hill for the Baysox, but fell behind in an early 1-0 hole. Gorkys Hernandez led off the game with a bloop single to right. The speedy center fielder stole second and third, coming home on a sacrifice fly by Jason Delaney to put Altoona on top.

Erbe was resilient through the next three innings, working around baserunners in every inning and keeping the deficit at one. The wheels fell off in the fifth inning, as Erbe allowed a hit, committed an error and walked in two runs before being replaced by right-hander Eddie Gamboa. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gamboa walked in the Curve's third run of the inning, as they extended the lead to four.

"I got through the fourth inning and felt like I was starting to get on a roll," Erbe said. "I have no problem with giving up hits, but going out there and walking guys and throwing a ball away I felt like I beat myself."

Faced with a 4-0 deficit, the Baysox offense came back to score three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth against left-hander Kyle Bloom. Crozier got things going with his eighth home run of the season to lead off the fifth, tying right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion for the team lead. With shortstop Carlos Rojas on first with two outs, center fielder Danny Figueroa lined a single off the glove of Altoona third baseman Pedro Alvarez to extend the inning. Twin brother Paco Figueroa followed with a two-out, base-clearing triple to cut the Curve lead to one.

"After that inning the team got that spark of life, and that's something we've been missing for almost two weeks," Crozier said. "When they say hitting is contagious it seemed like it showed there."

Altoona came right back to score two more in the top of the sixth, as Gamboa continued to struggle with his control. Jeff Corsaletti walked to start the inning, advancing to third when catcher Adam Donachie committed a throwing error on a bunt by Eddie Prasch. With runners at the corners and nobody out, Gamboa was called for a balk by home plate umpire Adam Hamari, allowing a run to score. The right-hander got the next two hitters, but walked Alvarez and allowed an RBI single to Jason Delaney to push another run across for the Curve.

The Baysox came back with a single run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to tie the game at six. Second baseman Miguel Abreu started the bottom of the sixth with a double down the line in left, his 30th two-bagger of the season. Abreu stole third, and came home on an RBI single by left fielder Dave Krynzel. In the seventh inning, right-hander Michael Dubee came on for Altoona, running into trouble when Paco Figueroa doubled with one out to put a runner in scoring position for Josh Bell. The Baysox third basemen worked the count full, before golfing a low fastball deep into the night at Prince George's Stadium for a two-run blast to tie the game. It was Bell's fifth home run in 17 games since joining the Baysox, bringing his season total to 16 home runs and 64 RBI in 111 games between Double-A Chattanooga and Bowie on the season.

The tie would be short-lived, as Altoona came through with the go-ahead run on another Baysox miscue in the top of the eighth inning. Right-hander Ryan Ouellette allowed a leadoff single to Prasch, and Hernandez looked to move him over with a sacrifice bunt. Bell fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first was too far inside and Hernandez collided with Abreu, who was covering first base on the play. The ball skipped down the first base line, allowing Prasch to come all the way around and score the go-ahead run from first.

Altoona right-hander Ramon Aguero came on looking to hold down the Curve lead. Aguero set the Baysox down in order in the eighth inning, but hit Danny Figueroa with a pitch to start the ninth. Paco Figueroa followed with a four-pitch walk, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. Bell followed with a sharp line drive, but Delaney snagged it for the first out of the inning. Concepcion flied out to right, advancing Danny Figueroa to third, but Abreu grounded into a fielder's choice on the first pitch he saw to end the game.

Altoona took three of four from the Baysox over the long weekend, as Bowie has now dropped 10 of their last 14 overall. They remain 3.5 games behind Reading for second place in the Southern Division.

The Baysox will host a four-game set with first place Akron beginning tomorrow at Prince George's Stadium. RHP Tim Bascom (2-7, 4.22) takes the hill for Bowie, looking to snap his seven-game losing streak. No starter has been announced for Akron. Game time is set for 7:05, and fans are encouraged to come out and test their skills in a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. Any fan with a lower reserve seat ticket can enter the tournament and rock their way to bragging rights over Baysox nation.

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