EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox Big Inning Buries Blasts

Published on July 18, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


(Bowie, MD) - The Baysox came back from a 3-1 deficit Friday night and scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take their third straight from Reading, 7-4. Brad Bergesen tossed 6.0 innings and allowed three runs on four hits, including three solo homeruns. Bergesen also struck out six batters and left the game on the hook for the loss, but the Baysox offense bailed him out to give him his Eastern League-leading 11th victory of the year.

Matt Wieters maintained his torrid pace, extended his hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single as part of Bowie's big sixth inning. Wieters has played in just 21 games with the Baysox since being promoted from Frederick and has reached base in all 21 contests.

The Phillies grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning with their first of four solo homeruns in the game. Jason Donald came up with one out and blasted a line drive over the left field wall. Jeff Nettles answered back for the Baysox with a solo homerun of his own in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1. The next solo shot came from Reading's Mike Eylward with two away in the top of the fourth inning to give the Phillies the lead. Lou Marson made the lead 3-1 with a solo homerun of his own in the top of the sixth inning, before Bergesen retired the side and left the game.

Despite giving up three homeruns, Bergesen was pleased with his effort, "I guess looking back on it I kinda got into some hitter's counts and left some pitches up. The three pitches I felt I really made mistakes on, they really truly took advantage of them and hit them out of the park. I threw a lot of sliders and felt very comfortable with that pitch tonight. I'm not positive why I came out after 85 pitches, it could be that I pitched in the All-Star game or that I gave up three solo jacks and they just wanted to get me out of there."

The Baysox broke it open in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Rodriguez hit a one-out double down the left field line. Lou Montanez blooped one down the right field line that dropped in for a double also, but Rodriguez was forced to hold at third base. Nolan Reimold tied the game at 3-3 with a clutch base hit up the middle, "Well I swung at a pitch about a foot outside and a foot low. So that wasn't good, after that I felt I got the zone down and I got a pitch out over the plate, I think it was the second or third pitch of the at-bat. It got up the middle which was good."

Reimold advanced to second on the throw home and Matt Wieters plated him with a base hit to left field, giving the Baysox a 4-3 lead. After a flyout by Jeff Nettles, Ryan Finan drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Carlos Rojas poked a base hit up the middle to bring in Wieters and advance Finan to second. The runners each moved up on a wild pitch by Jason Anderson and Blake Davis brought them both in to score with a double to left field, giving the Baysox a 7-3 lead. With the six runs in Friday's sixth inning, the Baysox have scored at least three runs in one inning of each game in this series.

Wilfredo Perez came on to take over for Bergesen in the top of the seventh and escaped some early trouble. Perez hit Eylward with a pitch to start the seventh, then walked Brad Harman and hit Luke Appert with another pitch to load the bases with no outs. Clay Harris hit a chopper toward the shortstop and Harman attempted to dodge the grounder, but it struck him in the torso. Harman was called out on the play and Harris was awarded a single. By rule, the runner on third could not score on the play, leaving the bases loaded with one out. Perez got Michael Spidale to fly out to shallow right field and struck out Jason Donald to end the threat.

Perez worked another scoreless inning in the eighth. After striking out Greg Golson and Lou Marson to lead off the inning, Marson was ejected by home plate umpire Doug Levy for arguing balls and strikes. Reading manager P.J. Forbes added his two cents and Levy ejected him as well. Perez got Mike Eylward to ground out to end the inning.

The Baysox looked to their newest pitcher, Chad Thall, to close out the Phillies in the ninth. Thall sent down the first two batters he faced but then gave up a solo homerun to Clay Harris, Reading's fourth of the game. Thall got Spidale to pop out to second base and end the game.

With the victory, the Baysox improve to 56-44, third place in the Southern Division. Bowie looks to make it four straight over the Phillies Saturday night when RHP David Hernandez (5-2, 2.63 ERA) going up against Reading LHP Fabio Castro (6-1, 4.59 ERA).

Saturday night is 'Jamaican Me Crazy' Night at Prince George's Stadium, complete with steel drums and reggae! Sunday night is Competitive Eating Night at the ballpark, featuring professional eaters taking on fans in a Competitive Eating Showdown following the game. Monday is the completion of our Lindsay Czarniak bobblehead giveaway, with the first 500 fans ages 6 & up receiving a free bobbly version of the NBC 4 Sports anchor.

The Bowie Baysox are in their 16th season as the "AA" affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Baysox individual game tickets, season ticket plans, group outings, picnics and birthday parties are currently available for booking by calling the Baysox front office at (301) 464-4880.

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Eastern League Stories from July 18, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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