EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Arrieta Back On Track As Baysox Earn Split

Published on June 2, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


Trenton, New Jersey - Jake Arrieta led the Baysox to victory in game one, but a late comeback was not enough in game two as the Baysox and Thunder split a twin-bill Tuesday in Trenton. Bowie took the first game 7-2 behind a big first inning caused by a Trenton defensive miscue. Game two was decided in walk-off fashion as Carlos Mendoza singled home Colin Curtis in the bottom of the seventh to give Trenton the nightcap with a 5-4 win.

The Baysox jumped out to the early lead in game one, posting a five spot in the top of the first inning against Trenton starter Ryan Pope. The Thunder right-hander got the first two Baysox in order, but third baseman Miguel Abreu doubled to put a runner in scoring position with two out. First baseman Michael Costanzo walked and catcher Adam Donachie followed with an RBI single to put the Baysox on top. The inning continued when first baseman Kevin Smith misplayed a grounder off the bat of Baysox left fielder Joe Nowicki to load the bases. Right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion made Trenton pay for the defensive miscue, lining a three-run double to left that cleared the bases and put the Baysox ahead by four. Designated hitter Guillermo Rodriguez followed with the Baysox third double of the inning, scoring Concepcion and giving Arrieta a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.

Arrieta earned his fifth win of the season, working 6.2 innings allowing two earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out nine. He allowed a run in the second inning on a solo homer to Edwar Gonzalez. Trenton's run in the third inning came on a sacrifice fly by Curtis. The nine strikeouts by Arrieta was one shy of his season high and the right-hander fell one out short of throwing his second complete game of the season.

The Baysox added two runs in the third inning off Pope to extend their lead. Donachie and Nowicki led off the inning with back-to-back singles off Pope. Concepcion followed with a fielders' choice, erasing Nowicki at second and putting runners on the corners with one out. Rodriguez followed with a groundout to third, scoring Donachie and giving Rodriguez his eleventh RBI of the season.

Left-hander Chad Thall came on with two outs in the ninth, getting the Baysox out of a jam with runners on first and second. Thall has allowed one earned run over his last six appearances, striking out eight and walking two over 8.0 innings of work.

In game two, right-hander Patrick Egan made his first start for the Baysox. The 6-foot-7-inch Egan allowed three runs (1 ER) in 5.0 innings of work, as Trenton took advantage of extra outs by the Baysox defense to push across two unearned runs.

The Baysox struck first blood in the second inning off Thunder right-hander Alan Horne. Concepcion walked and stole second to start the inning, advancing to third on a single by Nowicki. Rodriguez followed with a single to center, scoring Concepcion as Nowicki advanced to third. Shortstop Robert Valido lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Nowicki and the Baysox jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Trenton responded in the bottom of the inning, as Edwar Gonzalez reached on a throwing error by Valido to start the inning. The error was Valido's fifth of the season, snapping a 23-game errorless streak dating back to May 6. The Thunder took advantage, as Gonzalez crossed the plate later in the inning on an RBI groundout by James Cooper.

They would take the lead in the fifth inning off Egan, as Seth Fortenberry and Cooper singled to start the inning. Justin Snyder followed with a tapper in front of the plate, but Rodriguez threw the ball away allowing Fortenberry to score and put runners at second and third with nobody out. Normally a reliable veteran behind the plate, the error was Rodriguez's second of the season after committing two all of last season. Left-hander Wilfrido Perez came on to replace Egan after the error, allowing an RBI single to Chris Malec before getting out of the inning with the Baysox behind by one.

Trenton would add another unearned run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Cooper. The Baysox were plagued by another defensive miscue, as third baseman Jonathan Tucker committed the third error of the game to extend the inning for the Thunder.

Tucker would make up for it in the bottom of the inning, providing the key hit as the Baysox mounted a two-run ninth inning rally to tie the game at four. With one out and designated hitter Rodolfo Cardona on first, center fielder Dave Krynzel lined a single to right off Trenton reliever Kevin Whelan. An error by Gonzalez in right allowed Cardona to advance to third, putting men at the corners for Tucker. Trenton skipper Tony Franklin went to his closer, right-hander Amaury Sanit, to get them out of the jam. Tucker stepped to the plate and lined a two-run triple to right off Sanit, tying the game and putting the go-ahead run on third with one out. Abreu followed with a line drive to third, but Marcos Vechionacci snagged it and stepped on third to double off Tucker and end the threat.

Right-hander Ryan Ouellette came on for Perez in the seventh, giving up a single to Curtis to lead off the inning. Curtis advanced to second on a groundout by Malec, bringing Mendoza to the plate with the winning run on second and one out. Mendoza lined a single to left, scoring Curtis and giving the Thunder a 5-4 victory.

The two teams do battle again tomorrow at Waterfront Ballpark in Trenton. RHP Fredy Deza (1-1, 3.38 ERA) takes the hill for the Baysox against Thunder RHP Christian Garcia (1-0, 0.60 ERA). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

The Baysox 17th season as the class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway! Check out www.baysox.com to see all that's going on at the stadium this year, and don't miss a moment of the action as the Baysox attempt to bring home their first Eastern League championship. Individual game tickets and ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the Baysox box office at (301) 464-4865.

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Eastern League Stories from June 2, 2009


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