EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox Unable to Overcome Akron Pitching

Published on April 18, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


The Baysox outhit Akron 10-7 at home Monday night, but struggled to get timely hits as they fell to the Aeros 4-2. The loss drops the Baysox back below .500 to 5-6.

While the offense had trouble putting up runs, right-handed reliever Raul Rivero kept the Baysox in the game. Rivero threw four innings in relief of right-handed starting pitcher Eddie Gamboa and did not allow an earned run. During the first five games of the Baysox homestand, the Bowie bullpen has thrown 24 innings in relief and allowed only one earned run, which came in the extra innings loss in the series finale against Erie on Sunday.

Gamboa got off to a rough start as he gave up three earned runs in the top of the first inning, but was able to settle down later in the game. He struck out Tyler Fedroff, but then Juan Diaz hit a single to shallow right, which was followed by an RBI double to center field by Chun Chen. The next batter, Matt McBride, hit a two-run home run to left field that would give the Aeros an early 3-0 lead.

"Early on I felt like I was trying to over-throw it, leaving the ball up and they were hitting the ball really hard," Gamboa said. "The last few innings I just wanted to settle down and miss down in the zone and hopefully make them swing at my pitches as opposed to their pitches."

The Baysox got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter and center fielder Xavier Avery struck out to start the inning, but second baseman Greg Miclat got on base when he hit an infield single to shortstop. After left fielder Jeff Fiorentino struck out, third baseman Brandon Waring hit a double to center field that would push Miclat across for the Baysox first run of the game. The inning and the Baysox early rally would end when designated hitter Robbie Widlansky struck out.

"I've been seeing [the ball] well," said Waring, who is leading the team in RBIs. "I'm just trying to go up there and get a good pitch to hit and not do too much and it's working out. That's an important thing to do - to drive in runs - you really have to bear down and get a good pitch to hit."

The Aeros would get on the board one more time in the sixth inning with help from a fielding error by first baseman Billy Rowell. McBride hit a single through the hole at shortstop to start the inning and Kyle Bellows reached first on a fielding error by Rowell that moved McBride to third. John Drennen then hit a single through the hole at second base that scored McBride and advanced Bellows to second. Rivero then replaced Gamboa and would end the inning without allowing anymore runs.

Bowie made one last attempt at a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to a lead off home run by catcher Caleb Joseph to make the game 4-3, but it would not be enough as Aeros closer Cory Burns would retire the next three Baysox batters in order.

While the Baysox batters had ten hits on the night, they also struck out 15 times and have been sent back to the dugout 37 times in the last three games.

"We just had a lot of K's," said Manager Gary Kendall. "Other than ten hits, between our first three hitters, we had [eight] punch-outs. That can't happen regardless of whether it's a left-on-left or a right-on-right so we have to put the ball in play a little bit better. We had some guys in scoring position and we couldn't get the hit after we stole a couple bags."

The Baysox may struggle at times to get hits, but when runners get on base, they can be deadly. The Baysox currently lead all Eastern League teams in stolen bases, with 17, and Avery currently leads the league with seven steals - the next closest player has four.

"As a team, we have certain guys that are base stealers," Kendall explained. "The organization wants us to go on that route with that player and try to develop that player and develop his tools and his base stealing ability. We are going to continue to run because it's only going to make us better."

Tuesday is Tailgate Tuesday with $2 draft beers in the Bud Light Picnic Pavilion and Wednesday is Pie Day. The Baysox next homestand begins April 29 and goes through May 5.

Baysox Baseball - We'll Knock Your 'Sox Off. The Baysox 19th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway. They played their first game at Prince George's Stadium Thursday, April 14, at 7:05 p.m and are at home through April 20. Parking is free at every Baysox home game and tickets are now available at www.baysox.com.

Check out the Chesapeake Baysox Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 18, 2011


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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