EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox Battle Back Against Curve

Published on June 26, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


ALTOONA, Pa. - Baysox starter John Mariotti had a wild night in Altoona, but the Baysox offense picked him up in a 6-3 victory Friday night. First baseman Eric Crozier had a pair of doubles and second baseman Miguel Abreu tallied three hits and scored a pair of runs as the right side of the Bowie infield fueled the Baysox attack.

Abreu got the offense rolling in the second inning with a leadoff double to center. Abreu moved to third on a fly out by center fielder Dave Krynzel and scored on a ground out by right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.

Altoona would throw Mariotti a curve with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Mariotti walked Miles Durham to start the inning. After a fly out to center field and a pop fly to short, Brian Friday singled to center field. Gorkys Hernandez followed with another single to center, scoring Durham and tying the game at one. Krynzel attempted to throw Durham out at the plate, allowing Hernandez to take second. With Jose Tabata batting, Mariotti threw a wild pitch, scoring Friday and advancing Hernandez to third. Mariotti threw another wild pitch in the at-bat, allowing Hernandez to score and putting Altoona up 3-1.

Mariotti would not allow another run in his 5.0 innings of work. In total, Mariotti allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits and four walks. It was the fifth time he has walked at least four batters in a start for the Baysox, but the first time in his last five outings. Mariotti avoided the big inning, inducing double plays in the first, second and fourth innings.

Baysox southpaw Chad Thall worked a pair of scoreless innings in relief of Mariotti to earn his second win of the season. The lefty allowed three hits and a walk but recorded a key double play in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a pair of singles by Milver Reyes and Friday in the seventh, Hernandez grounded into a double play for the first two outs. After intentionally walking Tabata, Thall struck out Pedro Alvarez to end the inning. With the win, Thall is 2-2 with a 3.51 ERA on the season.

The Baysox added a second run in the top of the seventh inning. Abreu led off with a single and moved to second on a one-out single by Concepcion. He stole third with designated hitter Adam Donachie batting and scored on a ground out to second by Donachie.

A two-run eighth inning would put the Baysox back on top. Left fielder Jonathan Tucker led off with a double to right field. Crozier drove Tucker in with a one-out double to center field off Curve reliever Corey Hamman and moved to third on a ground out by third baseman Mike Costanzo. Abreu singled to center to score Crozier and stole second base, putting himself in scoring position with two outs. Abreu was stranded at second base, but wound up with a pair of steals in the contest. He now has 14 on the season, second most on the team.

A pair of runs in the ninth inning provided the Baysox with some breathing room. Donachie reached on a one-out error by Alvarez at third base. Catcher Guillermo Rodriguez doubled to put Baysox backstops on second and third with one out. Tucker lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Donachie and shortstop Robert Valido delivered an RBI single to put the Baysox up 6-3.

Baysox righty Ryohei Tanaka held the Curve scoreless over the final two frames to record his third save of the season. Tanaka allowed a leadoff single to Jason Delaney in the eighth inning before retiring the next three batters to end the inning. In the ninth inning, Tanaka hit Friday with a pitch with one out and allowed a two-out single to Tabata to bring the tying run to the plate before striking out Alvarez swinging to end the game. The win improves the Baysox record to 39-33 on the season.

The Baysox and the Curve will meet for a doubleheader Saturday evening in Altoona. LHP Brian Matusz is scheduled to start the first game for the Baysox at 5:05, RHP Fredy Deza will start the second game. The Baysox return home Tuesday, June 30, for Belly Buster Bargain Night. The team will also host a fundraiser to benefit the family of Christopher Jones July 1, the team is offering $5 general admission seat tickets through several Crofton businesses with proceeds being donated to the family.

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 26, 2009


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