EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox Can't Offset LaPorta

Published on September 3, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


(Bowie, MD) - The Baysox fought hard but were outlasted in 12 innings by the Aeros and Matt LaPorta in the first game of the Southern Division championship, 6-5. The Akron slugger lifted the Aeros on his shoulders Wednesday, going 4-for-5 with 2 homeruns and 4 RBI in the contest. The teams used a total of 11 pitchers combined in the marathon game that lasted over four hours.

With the loss, the Baysox are down 1-0 in the best-of-five game Divisional series. The Baysox look to even the series Thursday in Bowie with RHP Brad Bergesen (15-6, 3.22 ERA) going up against Aeros RHP J.D. Martin (11-3, 2.49 ERA).

Bowie got the early lead in the bottom of the first on a solo homerun by Nolan Reimold that cleared the scoreboard in left field. Reimold has now homered in three consecutive games and four out of his last five. He also extended his streak of runs scored to six consecutive games.

The Aeros tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on a run that was not supplied by LaPorta. Carlos Santana hit a one-out single and Wyatt Toregas drove a ball deep to center field with two away. Mike Rodriguez sprinted back to the warning track and reached out but could not corral the ball, allowing Toregas to score on what would be ruled a fielding error.

The Baysox took the lead right back in the bottom of the second when Jeff Nettles led off the inning with a homerun to right-center to make the score 2-1 Baysox.

LaPorta came back and led off the top of the fourth with a monster homerun to left field, his first hit and homerun of the day. Baysox starter Jason Berken regretted the pitch as soon as it left his hand. "I felt alright tonight, the one mistake I made was the 2-0 pitch to LaPorta. I just left a fastball over the plate. The first homerun you just tip your cap, it was a changeup low in the zone and he just went down and got it. I can live with that one, but the second one I fell behind and made the mistake with the fastball and I can't be doing that to a hitter like that."

Bowie struck for another run in the bottom of the fifth. Steve Torrealba led off with a walk and Jonathan Tucker hit a two-out single into left field. Carlos Rojas slapped one that landed just inside the right field line for a double, scoring Tucker to put the Baysox back in front, 3-2.

LaPorta struck again in the top of the sixth to snatch the lead back for Akron. Wes Hodges singled to lead off the inning and LaPorta launched a two-run shot, his second dinger of the night, over the wall in left to give the Aeros a 4-3 lead.

Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin was pleased with Berken's showing, but admitted that LaPorta posed a bit of a problem, "I thought he (Berken) threw good. He missed a couple pitches that turned into homeruns but other than that I think he pitched good. As far as LaPorta is concerned, I might have to go home tonight and think about how to pitch him. We didn't do a good job of getting him out tonight."

Bowie managed to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out rally. Steve Torrealba hit a bloop down the right field line that stayed fair for a base hit. With Ryan Finan batting, Torrealba took second base on a wild pitch and Sebastien Boucher came in to pinch run. Finan smacked a base hit up the middle and Boucher came around to score the game-tying run.

Gerardo Casadiego came on to work the top of the ninth and struck out Matt Whitney to lead off the inning. Wyatt Toregas followed with a solo homerun to left field to give the Aeros a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Casadiego then hit Brandon Pinckney with his next pitch and began jawing the Akron dugout. Mike Griffin came out of the dugout to meet with Casadiego on the mound and was ejected by home plate umpire Mark Lollo. Griffin declined to comment on the circumstances following the game.

The Baysox would not roll over, putting pressure on Aeros closer Ryan Newsom in the bottom of the ninth. Jonathan Tucker led off and beat out an infield single to first base. He hit the ball sharply between first and second and first baseman Stephen Head deflected it with a diving attempt. Second baseman Josh Rodriguez made a great effort of fielding and throwing to Newsom at first, but Tucker just beat the play. Carlos Rojas drew a walk and Nolan Reimold laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. The Aeros did not hesitate to walk Matt Wieters intentionally, loading the bases for Jeff Nettles. Nettles hit a sharp ground ball to first but Stephen Head made a diving stop to make the force out at second base. Tucker was able to score on the play, tying the game at 5-5. Mike Rodriguez came up with runners on the corners and a chance to win the game. Rodriguez hit a chopper between the mound and first base line. Newsom made a great play to field the ball and went for the tag. Rodriguez made an acrobatic slide in an attempt to avoid the tag and reach first, but was called out on a close play.

The game would remain deadlocked into the top of the twelfth inning when none other than Matt LaPorta would snap the tie. Brandon Sardinha led off with a base hit into right field and Wes Hodges singled to put runners on first and second. LaPorta lashed a single over shortstop and Sardinha came around to score the winning run.

Baysox manager Brad Komminsk didn't have much of a reaction to the loss, "It's just another game. Same thing we do all year, it's no different. You gotta win three out of five and we lost one so no big deal. We have to win three and they have to win two, so it's not much different. We had our opportunities we just didn't get it done."

The Bowie Baysox are out to Beat The Streaks in their 16th season as the "AA" affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Baysox have not reached the postseason since 1997 and have never reached the Eastern League Championship. Playoff tickets are available now on www.baysox.com or by calling the box office at (301) 464-4865.

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Eastern League Stories from September 3, 2008


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