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Bowie Baysox

Aeros Doubled Up By Baysox

August 26, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Bowie Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Baysox used four-spots in each game of the doubleheader to take down the first place Aeros Wednesday night in Bowie. Steve Johnson led the Baysox to a 5-3 victory in game one, and the Baysox bullpen shut down Akron over the final four innings to win the nightcap 5-2. With the two wins tonight, the Baysox move to 66-63 on the season, 3.0 games behind Reading for second place in the Southern Division.

"We've been giving away one-run games the last few days," left fielder Miguel Abreu said. "We're not going to quit playing, we definitely think we have a chance just like everybody else."

The night started out rather ominously for Johnson, who walked the first three hitters he faced. Beau Mills lifted a sacrifice fly to plate a run, and Matt McBride followed with an RBI infield single to put Akron ahead 2-0 in the first.

"In my bullpen I was fine and all of sudden the first three batters I lost it," Johnson said.

The Baysox offense bailed out the right-hander with a four-run bottom of the first inning to jump out front 4-2. With center fielder Danny Figueroa on second after an error by Mills to start the inning, twin brother Paco Figueroa laced an RBI single into center field to put a run on the board. Third baseman Josh Bell followed with a double into the right field corner, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. First baseman Eric Crozier's sacrifice fly brought home Paco Figueroa to tie the game at two and Abreu followed with a single to put runners at the corners with one out. Abreu stole second, and right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion lifted a sacrifice fly to score Bell and put Bowie out in front. After a walk to catcher Adam Donachie, second baseman Carlos Rojas blooped a single down the line in right to score Abreu to cap off the inning for the Baysox.

Johnson would settle down after a shaky first inning, retiring nine of the next ten batters he faced. The one batter he did not retire was Carlos Santana, who blasted a solo home run deep to center field in the third inning to make the score 4-3. Johnson would leave after 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits, walking five and striking out four on the way to his first win in the Orioles organization.

"It took a while," Johnson joked after the game. "It's always better at the end of the season when you're in it and each game matters, you get a little more pumped up for each game and try to keep your team in it."

The Baysox tallied another run in the fifth inning against Akron starter Jeanmar Gomez. Crozier drew a one out walk, and eventually scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Donachie.

With a two-run advantage, the Baysox turned it over to Luis Lebron. The right-hander has been automatic in the late innings for manager Brad Komminsk, and he continued his dominance with 2.0 perfect innings to earn his fifth save. Over his last ten outings, Lebron has not been scored upon over 13.0 innings of work while striking out 16 and walking only one.

Game two saw Baysox left-hander Ryan Rodriguez make his first start since June 28, 2007. The left hander allowed single runs in the second and third innings, but staved off any major damage over 3.0 innings of work.

The Baysox put a run on the board in the second inning against Akron right-hander Connor Graham, as Abreu took it upon himself to start a rally. He led off the inning with a sharp single to center field, and stole second for his 25th stolen base of the season. Two batters later, catcher Steve Torrealba laced an RBI single to center field as Abreu came around to score the Baysox first run and tie the game at one.

Down 2-1 in the second, the Baysox struck for another four-run inning as they loaded the bases with one out and Abreu came to the dish. Abreu lined a single into left field, scoring Paco Figueroa to tie the score at two as the bases remained loaded. After Jonathan Tucker struck out, Graham let loose a wild pitch with Concepcion at the plate to bring across the go-ahead run. With Graham rattled, Concepcion took advantage by lacing a single back up the middle to plate two more and put the Baysox ahead 5-2.

Abreu collected multi-hit games in both games of the doubleheader, bringing his total to 40 for the season. Abreu made starts in center field, left field and second base over his last three games, showing his versatility while not letting it affect his offense.

"In college I was an outfielder," Abreu said. "I feel comfortable out there and (Jonathan) Tucker and Paco (Figueroa) have been helping me out a lot, tonight we played like a team and everybody looked good.

The Baysox bullpen would take care of the rest, as Eddie Gamboa came on to replace Rodriguez in the top of the fourth inning. The right-hander worked 2.0 innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out two to earn his first win in three appearances with the Baysox this season. Right-hander Ryan Ouellette came on for the final two innings, allowing a hit in the ninth before inducing a double-play on the way to his fifth save of the season.

The two teams close out the series tomorrow as RHP Fredy Deza (5-5, 3.00) takes the hill for the Baysox against RHP Josh Tomlin (12-9, 4.40). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

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