EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Avery Runs Circles Around Curve

Published on May 26, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


Altoona, Pa. - After scoring only one run in Wednesday's loss, the Baysox dominated offensively Thursday, recording 12 hits and beating the Curve 4-1 to win the series 3-1. The win moves the Baysox above .500 to 24-23.

Right-handed starting pitcher Steve Johnson pitched six innings and allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out seven as he earned his second consecutive win.

Center fielder Xavier Avery batted leadoff for the Baysox in all four games of the series and reached base to start all four games. Avery went 3-for-3 in the opening frames with two doubles, a triple, a walk and three runs scored. With Avery's lead off triple Wednesday, he extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine games, which makes it the longest hitting streak since Joel Guzman hit safely in nine straight games from August 1-11.

For the fourth game in a row, the Baysox scored a run in the top of the first inning. Avery hit a lead off triple and after a ground out by second baseman Greg Miclat that held Avery at third, designated hitter Robbie Widlansky hit a sacrifice fly to center field to push Avery across and give the Baysox a 1-0 lead.

The Curve tied the game in the bottom of the second against Johnson. With one out, Tony Sanchez hit a home run to left field to make the game 1-1.

With Avery leading off the top of the third inning, the Baysox retook the lead. Avery singled to second base and moved to second on a single to right field by Miclat. Widlansky grounded into a force out that eliminated Miclat at second, but Avery advanced to third on the play. With catcher Steve Lerud batting, Widlansky stole second and Avery scored on a throwing error by catcher Tony Sanchez. Lerud drew a walk and left fielder LJ Hoes singled to left field to load the bases. Shortstop Pedro Florimon then singled to right field to score Widlansky and put the Baysox up 3-1 before third baseman Brandon Waring grounded into a double play.

The Baysox scored another run on Curve starter Aaron Pribanic in the top of the fifth inning. Widlansky hit a lead off double to left field and scored when Lerud singled to center field to put Bowie up 4-1.

Facing right-handed close Jose Diaz, the Curve mounted one last rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. Eric Fyer walked to start the inning and moved to second on a single to right field by Jeremy Farrell. Diaz struck out Sanchez, but then a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third base where Fryer scored on a sacrifice fly by Shelby Ford to make the score 4-2. Diaz struck out the last batter to end the game.

Left-handed reliever Nick Bierbrodt pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Johnson, allowing one hit while striking out one. He has allowed just one earned run in 12.0 innings with the Baysox and his ERA currently sits at 0.75. Diaz recorded his 15th save of the season and third save of the series despite allowing one earned run on one hit in the ninth inning.

For the fourth game in a row, Widlansky drove in a run and now leads the team with 29 RBIs. In three consecutive games, Widlansky has driven in a run with a sacrifice fly and has done so in the first inning of the past two games. While the Baysox have struggled for much of the season to put the ball in play with runners in scoring position, Widlansky has changed that over the past two weeks and proved to be a reliable hitter in the third spot in the batting order. Widlansky is hitting .297 with runners in scoring position this season.

While Avery gets most of the attention as a base stealer, after a two stolen base game, Miclat has taken 16 bags this season, putting him just three behind Avery. Miclat has also not been caught stealing yet this season.

Friday, LHP Rick Zagone (1-3, 5.52) will take the mound for the Baysox as they travel to Harrisburg to take on the Senators in a game starting at 7:00 p.m. a.m. His opponent will be RHP Tanner Roark (1-1, 5.79).

The Baysox began an eight-game road trip Monday, May 23, but return home for a six game homestand Tuesday, May 31. For more information on Baysox promotions and theme nights, visit www.baysox.com.

Baysox Baseball - We'll Knock Your 'Sox Off. The Baysox 19th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway. Parking is free at every Baysox home game and tickets are now available at www.baysox.com.

Check out the Chesapeake Baysox Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 26, 2011


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