BayBears power past West Tenn
Published on June 10, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
Jackson, Ten. â The Mobile BayBears bounced back Tuesday night to defeat the West Tenn Diamond, 5-4. The BayBears scored all five of their runs via the long ball. A two-run homerun by Rico Washington, another two-run shot by Jon Knott, and a solo homer by Humberto Quintero accounted for all of Mobile's tallies. The BayBears scored two runs Monday night, both came on solo homeruns as well.
"After a tough travel day yesterday, the guys bounced back and played the way I think we are capable of playing," BayBears manager Craig Colbert said. "We had timely hitting, good defense, and great pitching."
BayBears starter Chris Oxspring had his fourth straight great start. The converted reliever threw five and one-third innings allowing three runs while striking out nine. Oxspring (3-2) has won his last three starts, striking out 24 batters in his 15 and one-third innings.
Trailing 2-0 in the fourth the BayBears tied the score as Washington hit his eighth homerun of the season, and second in as many nights, scoring Jake Gautreau on the blast. Knott would break the tie in the top of the sixth with his league-leading 16th homerun of the season, also his second in as many nights, a two-run towering bomb to left.
"The ball Jon (Knott) hit was absolutely crushed," Colbert added. "It sounded like a cannon went off."
West Tenn narrowed the margin to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth as Mike Dzurilla doubled home Ray Sadler. Quintero led off the top of the seventh with his first homerun of the season. That insurance run would prove to be needed as BayBears closer Rusty Tucker gave up a solo homerun in the bottom of the ninth, but did strikeout the side, as he earned his 17th save of the year.
"I thought the bullpen did a great job tonight, allowing just one run in five and two-thirds," said Colbert. "I was really happy with the way Rusty (Tucker) threw."
Game three of the series will be Wednesday at 7:05. Chris Rojas (2-5) will get a spot start for the BayBears. The right-hander's last start of the season was May 15th. Since then Rojas has been pitching out of the Mobile bullpen. He will face John Webb (2-6).
Southern League Stories from June 10, 2003
- BayBears power past West Tenn - Mobile BayBears
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- Rays shut out Suns, 4-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Stars Fall to Barons, 2-1 - Huntsville Stars
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