Sports stats



EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

All-Star Ignites Fireworks on Fourth

July 4, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Baysox offense provided fireworks early and often on Independence Day as they recorded a season-high 17 runs, but surrendered a season-high 22 hits while out-lasting the Reading Philles 17-12 at home on the Fourth of July. With the win, the Baysox move back above .500 to 41-40 on the season.

A total of 48 runners made it on base throughout the course of the game as the offenses of both teams were firing on all cylinders. The 17 runs scored by the Baysox set a new season-high for the second time in less than a week, topping the previous mark of 14 set June 30 at Binghamton. The 22 hits allowed by the Baysox topped the season-high of 17 and the 14 hits allowed by right-handed starting pitcher Zach Clark are the most allowed by one pitcher in franchise history.

"When you see 22 hits on the board, you don't think you are going to be up a lot in the ninth so we were fortunate," said Manager Gary Kendall. "It was a good night offensively; it didn't start off that way. We stranded some guys early. If you would have told me, down by three earlier in the game that we were going to be up by five - that was pretty amazing. To our credit we rebounded pretty well. The homers couldn't have come at a better time and I was pleased at what we did offensively."

Reading jumped out to the early lead in the top of the first inning against Clark. Freddy Galvis led off the game with a triple to center field and then scored on an infield single by Michael Spidale to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, the Phillies added another run. Stephen Susdorf and Derrick Mitchell hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Joe Savery grounded into a double play and Susdorf moved to third where he scored when Niumen Romero singled back up the middle to make the score 2-0.

The Phillies scored a run for the third straight inning when they tacked on another one in the third inning. With one out Spidale, Matt Rizzotti and Carlos Rivero hit three straight singles to load the bases. Susdorf then knocked in Spidale with a single to left field to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Baysox got on the board in the bottom half of the third against Phillies starter Austin Hyatt. Third baseman Buck Britton and right fielder L.J. Hoes started the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third. With two outs, Hoes stole second to put two runners in scoring position and catcher Steve Lerud then picked them both up with a two-run single to left field to cut the lead to 3-2.

In the fourth inning, the Baysox took their first lead of the game. Shortstop Pedro Florimon and second baseman Greg Miclat started off the inning with back-to-back singles. Then with one out, 2011 Eastern League All-Star center fielder Xavier Avery blasted his third home run of the season to straight away center field to give the Baysox a 5-3 lead.

"On the homerun the pitcher just made a mistake and I capitalized," Avery said. "He left it up in the zone and I just hit it well. Other then that I was aggressive the whole day; I just wanted to get the runs in."

The Phillies took the lead back in the sixth inning. Susdorf and Mitchell each singled to start the inning and Savery tied the game with a two-run double to left field. Right-handed reliever Wynn Pelzer replaced Clark on the mound, and after a sacrifice bunt by Romero and Tuffy Gosewisch gave the Phillies the lead with a single to center field that made the score 6-5.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Baysox sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to take the lead back against Phillies reliever Chris Kissock. Florimon led off with a walk, Miclat singled through the hole at second base and left fielder Kyle Hudson singled to the pitcher to load the bases. Avery then tied the game with an RBI single to right field. Jake Diekman replaced Kissock on the mound, and Britton gave the Baysox the lead on a ground out to short that scored Miclat and also moved the other two runners to second and third. Hoes extended the lead with a two-run single to left field. The Baysox loaded the bases again after first baseman Joe Mahoney walked and 2011 Eastern League All-Star designated hitter Caleb Joseph was hit by a pitch. Then Lerud hit a ground ball to first base and Matt Rizzotti committed a throwing error trying to record the force out at home, allowing two more runs score on the play. After Florimon was intentionally walked to load the bases, Miclat capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly that gave the Baysox a 12-6 lead.

The Baysox added five more runs in the seventh inning against Reading pitcher Jordan Ellis. Avery singled to left-center field to start the inning and then with one out, Hoes drew a walk. The next batter, Mahoney, hit a three-run opposite field home run, his fifth of the season to give the Baysox a nine run lead. After a walk to Joseph, Lerud hit the Baysox third home run of the game to right field to give them a 17-6 lead.

"I am feeling pretty comfortable up there right now," Lerud said. "I am driving them and luckily I have been finding some holes out there. Hopefully, I can keep it going, and I hope the cards fall where they may."

In the ninth inning, the Phillies mounted a rally against right-handed reliever Raul Rivero. Romero, Gosewisch and Galvis all singled to load the bases. Spidale and Rizzotti then hit back-to-back RBI singles. The next batter, Rivero hit a grand slam to left-center field on the first pitch of his at-bat to cut the lead to 17-12. Right-handed reliever Pat Egan then came in and after allowing a lead off double to left-center field by Susdorf, recorded the final three outs to finish the game.

Clark pitched five innings and allowed six runs on 14 hits while striking out three, though he did not factor into the decision.

"It seemed like a lot of infield hits, I was talking about it and I probably should have thrown more to keep them off my fastball; I threw a lot of fastball pitches," Clark said. "I didn't even give them [off-speed pitches] a chance. I threw a couple of curve balls early, but it should have been better, I'd get myself in a hole and have to throw a fastball. I just have to get better with my off-speed pitches. I probably threw 12 off-speed pitches, and on a day like that when they are hitting the ball, I need to throw more."

Pelzer pitched two scoreless innings and allowed one hit while striking out two as he earned his fourth win of the season. Rivero pitched one-plus innings and allowed six runs on six hits. Egan recorded all three outs in the ninth inning to finish the game for the Baysox.

Early in the season, it was the Baysox pitching staff that was carrying an offense that was struggling to score, but in the past few weeks the roles have reversed and a high-powered offense is now carrying a pitching staff that is suffering from mid-season fatigue.

"We have been swinging the bats well," Lerud said. "We've been doing a better job of getting ahead in pitch counts, and getting the runners on. Early in the year our pitching was kind of carrying us and now we can get clicking on all four cylinders."

Hoes is batting .320 after 35 games with the Baysox and his hitting is getting better as he gets more at-bats at the Double-A level. Hoes has recorded three hits in three of his last four games.

"LJ is a guy that we always know can hit the ball real hard, it was only a matter of time until things were going to start falling for him," Kendall said. "For being 21 years old and hitting in the three hole in Double-A he is doing a really good job. He continues to get good pitches to hit."

Both Avery and Lerud recorded four RBIs while Mahoney followed with three of his own. Avery, Hoes and Lerud led the way with three hits and Avery and Hoes also scored three runs to lead the team.

Tuesday, RHP Chorye Spoone (2-4, 4.30) takes the mound for the Baysox as they take on the Reading Phillies. His opponent will be RHP Joe Esposito (0-1, 3.60)

The Baysox are home through Thursday, July 7 for a home stand that includes, Tailgate Tuesday and Free Food Tuesday night, Veteran's Appreciation Night Wednesday and the Mystery Bobblehead Giveaway and Festivus Miracle Thursday night. The team then begins a four-game road trip Friday, July 8 before the All-Star break Tuesday, July 12.

Check out the Chesapeake Baysox Statistics



Eastern League Stories from July 4, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central