BayBears fall out of first with loss
July 22, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
Jackson, Tenn. â For the second straight night the Mobile BayBears defense let them down leading directly to their demise. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, BayBears catcher Kevin Reinking made two errors giving the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx a 3-2 win in the opener of their four-game series, Tuesday night. With the loss, the BayBears fall out of first place in the West division of the Southern League.
BayBears reliever Bryan Gaal retired the first batter he faced in the ninth and struck out the second batter, Ray Sadler. The pitch hot away from Reinking behind the plate and his throw went over Jon Knott's head at first base and went into right field. Sadler went to second base on the wild throw. The next batter, Jackson Melian hit a smash up the middle to center fielder Freddy Guzman. With Sadler still ten feet from the plate, Reinking dropped Guzman's throw, allowing Sadler to score the game-winning run.
Gaal (1-5) took the tough loss. The right-hander threw the final one and one-third innings allowing the one unearned run on one hit.
The BayBears offense did not fair much better. They scored once in the first as Jake Gautreau drove singled home Todd Donovan, who had earlier tripled. In the second, Vince Faison scored on an infield groundout by Guzman, accounting for all of the offense Tuesday night.
"Offensively we were silent tonight," BayBears manager Craig Colbert said. "We couldn't get anything done."
West Tenn pitchers Wilton Chavez and Emanuel Ramirez combined for 17 strikeouts in the game, including compiling 16 strikeouts against the final 23 batters they faced. Ramirez picked up the win in relief, working the final two frames, striking out four.
BayBears starter Chris Rojas, making his return to the starting rotation, was solid through his five frames of work. Rojas gave up two runs and four hits, while striking out a season-high nine. Rojas made one mistake as Melian took him deep in the fourth inning with a two-run homer, tying the game at 2-2.
"Rojas has been outstanding" Colbert said. "We are very, very happy for him."
The BayBears and Diamond Jaxx will play game two of their series Wednesday night at 7:05. Mobile's RHP Justin Germano (0-1; 5.14) will make his second start of the season for the BayBears since being promoted from Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Southern League Stories from July 22, 2003
- Stars Record 3rd Straight Shutout, 6-0 - Huntsville Stars
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