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EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox and Curve Split Two

August 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - Ryohei Tanaka led Bowie to a 2-1 victory in game one, but Altoona came back to defeat the Baysox 5-3 in the nightcap to split Sunday's twin bill at Prince George's Stadium. Second baseman Miguel Abreu went 4-for-8 with his team leading 29th double over the two games, while Luis Lebron earned his fourth save of the season in game one.

Altoona starter Michael Crotta was in control of game one until running into trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning. Right fielder Dave Krynzel started the inning with a line drive single to right, advancing to second on a walk by catcher Adam Donachie. Shortstop Carlos Rojas moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, and left fielder Jonathan Tucker earned a free pass to load the bases with one out. Center fielder Daniel Figueroa followed with a fielders' choice, bringing home the first run of the game and putting men on the corners for Josh Bell. The Baysox third baseman smashed a single off the glove of Altoona first baseman Jason Delaney and into right field to make the score 2-0.

Tanaka worked around seven hits over 5.2 innings of work to pick up his fourth win of the season. He walked two and struck out one, not allowing a runner past first until the fifth inning.

"He threw the ball really good," Pitching Coach Larry McCall said. "He got a little tired and left a couple pitches up towards the end."

The right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth inning, as Pedro Alvarez and Jason Delaney singled with one out to start the Altoona rally. A walk to Ray Chang loaded the bases, and Steven Lerud followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the Baysox lead in half. Manager Brad Komminsk made the call to the bullpen for Lebron, who came on to strike out Jonel Pacheco on three pitches to escape the inning without further damage.

Lebron came back out in the seventh inning, allowing a two-out walk to Brian Friday before striking out Gorkys Hernandez to end the game. The free pass issued by Lebron was his first in his last nine outings, but the right-hander slammed the door to give the Baysox their 64th win of the season. Lebron has now held his opponent hitless in 12 of his 18 outings on the season, and has not allowed a run in his last nine games.

"He was walking guys and getting himself in trouble when he first got here," McCall said. "I thought he was just getting adjusted to being in Double-A and trying to overthrow, but now it looks like his command has gotten much better than it was."

In the nightcap, the two teams exchanged single runs in the first inning. Baysox starter Pedro Beato allowed three hits in the top of the first inning, culminating with an RBI single by Brian Friday to put Altoona ahead 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, Tucker was hit by a pitch and stole second to put a runner in scoring position with nobody out. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Figueroa, Tucker scampered home on a passed ball by Altoona catcher Miguel Perez to tie the game at one.

The two teams would remain tied until the fourth inning, when the Curve connected on back-to-back solo bombs to take a 3-1 lead. Beato fell behind in the count 3-1 to Pacheco, before leaving a fastball over the middle of the plate which the Altoona left fielder crushed over the wall in left for his 14th home run of the season. Miles Durham followed in suit two pitches later, taking another Beato fastball over the wall in left for his fourth of the season.

The Baysox got a run back in the bottom of the inning, as Abreu and Paco Figueroa singled to start the inning against Altoona right-hander Derek Hankins. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, and catcher Steve Torrealba brought a run home with a sacrifice fly to center to bring the Baysox within one.

Altoona added an insurance run in the top of the seventh against Baysox left-hander Ryan Rodriguez. With a runner on first and one out, Pedro Alvarez bounced into what could have been an inning-ending double play. Paco Figueroa struggled to get the ball out of his glove and could only get Alvarez at first, but the misplay would prove costly. Rodriguez walked the next two batters and Pacheco came through again with an RBI single to left. Dave Krynzel came up with a great throw to nail Jason Delaney at the plate to prevent another run from coming across, but the damage was done as Altoona led 5-2.

The Baysox would threaten in the ninth, mounting a two out rally against right-hander Scott Nestor. Danny Figueroa walked, Bell followed with a single and first baseman Eric Crozier drew a free pass to load the bases. An RBI single by Abreu moved everyone up a base and put the tying run in scoring position with two out, as Altoona manager Matt Walbeck went to his bullpen for Jared Hughes. The right-hander got the job done, getting Paco Figueroa to fly out to end the game and earn his first save of the season.

The two teams close out their series tomorrow as RHP Brandon Erbe (3-3, 2.26) takes the mound against LHP Kyle Bloom (5-7, 3.84). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. and all fans are encouraged to dress up like your favorite flappers and gangsters as the Baysox celebrate Party Like It's 1929 Night!

The Baysox 17th season as the class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is going strong! 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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