EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox Storm Past Fisher Cats

Published on August 6, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - Baysox center fielder Xavier Avery put the Baysox in front with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning and the Baysox never looked back as they topped New Hampshire 7-2 Saturday night in Bowie. The game was halted for a 33 minute rain delay in the top of the third inning. With the victory, the Baysox improve to 62-51 on the season and remain a half game behind Harrisburg.

Right-handed starting pitcher Zach Clark pitched six innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out one and walking four in the win. In two starts since returning from the Disabled List Clark is 2-0 and has allowed just one earned run in 11.0 innings.

"I made some adjustments and I feel pretty good," Clark said. "I could definitely be better, but the movement is back on my ball and I was getting ground balls and making pitches when I needed to. I didn't leave as many pitches up and when I miss up, it's not as bad."

Even after the rain delay ended, rain continued to fall for much of the game, wreaking havoc on both starting pitchers. Clark struggled to get a grip on the ball and maintain his footing on the mound.

"[Rain] can make it tough, especially when you know the pitcher can't get a grip on the ball like Clark," said catcher Steve Lerud. "Luckily he was able to come in and change his jersey and find something to get dry. You just have to try to get him to calm down and slow the situation down. You just have to tell him to stay within himself and do what he can with the ball, especially because he is a guy that needs to manipulate the baseball to get guys out."

After New Hampshire lead-off hitter Anthony Gose homered to start Friday night's game, it was Avery that got the Baysox off to a fast start Saturday against Fisher Cats starter Yohan Pino. Avery hit the Baysox first lead off home run of the season to center field to give them a 1-0 lead.

The Baysox added another run in the second inning. Shortstop Pedro Florimon drew a lead off walk and scored when right fielder Ronnie Welty doubled to left field to make the score 2-0.

In the sixth inning, the Fisher Cats got on the scoreboard against Clark. Travis d'Arnaud drew a lead off walk and Moises Sierra singled through the hole at second base to put two runners on. Both runners moved into scoring position on a ground out by Danny Perales to first baseman Joey Mahoney. Yan Gomes knocked in the first run of the game on a ground out that scored d'Arnaud and cut the lead to 2-1.

The Baysox added two insurance runs in the sixth inning against New Hampshire reliever Rey Gonzalez. Left fielder LJ Hoes and Mahoney drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. They were both bunted into scoring position by third baseman Buck Britton and then Lerud hit a two-run double to right field that extended the lead to 4-1.

"The pitcher was throwing a lot of soft stuff behind in the count so I was looking for something soft to sit on and luckily he threw one and I was able to do something with it," Lerud said."

In the seventh inning the Baysox added three more runs. With two outs, second baseman Greg Miclat singled to right field and stole second base before Hoes hit a single to center field that scored Miclat. The steal, Miclat's 42nd of the season, moves him into a tie for third with Napoleon Calzado for steals in a season in franchise history. After Matt Daly replaced Gonzalez on the mound, Mahoney added to the lead with a two-run home run to right field that made the score 7-1.

New Hampshire added one more run in the top of the ninth inning against right-handed reliever Chorye Spoone. Yan Gomes doubled to center field and moved to third when John Tolisano grounded out. Callix Crabbe plated Gomes with a sacrifice fly to center field that made the score 7-2.

Spoone pitched three innings in relief of Clark and allowed one run on two hits while striking out two as he earned the first save of his career.

After falling behind quickly Friday night and struggling to get timely hits, the Baysox were a whole different team Saturday as five different players recorded RBIs and the team scored runs in four different innings.

"Guys clicked tonight and had better at bats from the first at bat of the game," said Manager Gary Kendall. "Avery got us going - he had some good at bats tonight, Hoes and Lerud and Mahoney too, so it was spread throughout the lineup."

Sunday, LHP Mike Ballard (6-1, 3.31) takes the mound for the Baysox as the finish their series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. His opponent will be RHP Deck McGuire (2-0, 4.15).

The Baysox are home through Sunday, August 7 for a home stand that includes the Un-Birthday Big Birthday Bash Sunday August 7. The team begins a three game road trip to Reading Tuesday, August 9 before returning home for three games Friday, August 12.

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