EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox Win, Run for Cover

Published on August 24, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie Baysox knocked off the Akron Aeros 7-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Monday before a torrential downpour washed out the second half of the twin bill. The first game was a continuation of a game started in Akron on July 28 that was delayed more than two hours by rain before it was called off after one inning of play.

The Baysox jumped back into a playoff position with the win, as they moved to 67-60 on the season and are now tied with Harrisburg in second place, eight games behind division leaders Altoona.

Left-hander Rick Zagone replaced original starter Pedro Viola when the game resumed Monday, and earned his fourth win of the year after allowing one run on two hits, including a home run, through 3.0 innings.

"I was spotting up stuff," Zagone said. "I didn't have my velocity, because I couldn't really finish. I felt alright, my two-seamer was working for me and I got three quick innings for the win."

The game picked up in the top of the second inning with first baseman Brandon Waring on first base after a leadoff single back in Akron. Catcher Steve Lerud pushed him to second base with a single to center field, but Waring was thrown out at third when center fielder Xavier Avery attempted to advance the runners with a bunt. Eastern League home runs leader Joel Guzman walked to load the bases, and Bowie got on the board with a sacrifice fly by second baseman Carlos Rojas that plated Lerud and advanced Avery to third base. Shortstop Greg Miclat sent Avery across the plate for a 2-0 lead with a single lined to center field.

Waring made the score 3-0 in the top of the third inning with his first home run since he hit two on Aug. 8, sending the ball out over the left-field wall. It was Waring's 20th home run, giving the Baysox two 20-home-run hitters for the first time since the 2008 season, when Lou Montanez, Jeff Nettles and Nolan Reimold each hit the mark.

The Aeros responded with a long ball of their own in the bottom of the third inning, with a leadoff home run by left fielder John Drennen that cleared the wall in right field.

Zagone did not return for the bottom of the fifth inning, and was replaced by right-hander Sean Gleason. It was Zagone's shortest outing since he pitched 2.0 innings as a member of the Frederick Keys on June 12.

"Just when I started going, my back stiffened up on me," Zagone said. "I should be fine. I fought through it for a little bit. I wanted to see if it would loosen up. I pitched a couple innings and it wouldn't loosen up, so I told them I should probably stop right now. It feels fine right now, it's just a little tight."

Akron pulled to within a run against Gleason, after first baseman Beau Mills led off with a single to left field. Mills took second on Carlos Rivero's single to center field and moved to third when outfielder Jerad Head reached on a fielder's choice as Rivero was thrown out at second. Mills crossed home on another fielder's choice when Miguel Perez hit a grounder to Ryan Adams at third base. Head charged hard for second base and managed to beat Adams' throw to keep the inning alive and preserve the run.

Bowie reclaimed a two-run lead in the sixth inning thanks to center fielder Xavier Avery's blinding speed. Avery was hit by a pitch with one out, and stole second and then third base with Guzman batting. Guzman drew a walk, and Rojas drove Avery in for a 4-2 lead with his second sacrifice fly of the night.

The Baysox broke the game open in the top of the seventh inning, which Miclat opened by reaching first base on an error by Akron second baseman Cristo Arnal. Two batters later, right fielder Tyler Henson drew a walk before left fielder Joe Mahoney knocked the first pitch he saw clear out of the ballpark, sailing over the high wall behind right field for a three-run home run, his first three-run shot of the year with Bowie. His homer was the last pitch for Akron starter Scott Barnes, who finished with seven runs (six earned) on seven hits through 6.1 innings.

"It broke the game open for us," Baysox Manager Brad Komminsk said. "It was good to see him go lefty on lefty and hit a home run. That three-run [home run] was huge for us."

Before reliever Bryan Price could end the inning without further damage, Avery hit a single to right field, extending his hit streak to a career-best 10 games. After Head caught Guzman's fly ball for the final out, the Baysox held a commanding 7-2 lead.

Gleason made way for Jose Diaz in the bottom of the eighth inning, after giving up one run on three hits through 3.0 innings. Diaz was excellent in the final two innings, giving up a single with one out in the eighth inning before he retired five batters in a row to end the game.

Game two was scoreless after two and a half innings. Rain started to fall in the top of the third inning and 53 minutes after the game began, home plate umpire Jon Byrne called the tarp onto the field. The game was officially suspended 44 minutes later, and it will resume Tuesday as part of a doubleheader that begins at 6:05 p.m with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Carlos Rojas will be batting with two outs and a 2-1 count with nobody on base when the game continues. Both of Tuesday's games will be seven innings in length. Because a full game was played Monday, tickets from that game will not be valid for a future date.

Tuesdays at Prince George's Stadium are Tailgate Tuesdays, with live music and $2 drafts in the Bud Light Picnic Pavilion from 5-7 p.m. Fans can get a $5 general admission ticket at the box office or upgrade to a Belly Buster Bargain ticket that includes a foot-long hot dog, a bag of peanuts, a small popcorn and a lower reserved ticket for the standard price of a lower reserved ticket, $14. After the doubleheader on Tuesday, fans can catch the series finale on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. for a record-low price of one dollar with a coupon that can be printed out from Baysox.com. The Baysox then hit the road for four days in New Britain before returning home for a four-game set with the Altoona Curve.

Think Outside The Box with the Baysox in 2010. The Baysox 18th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is almost over. Catch all the action in Natural Definition! Baysox full-season and partial-season ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the group sales department at (301) 464-4880.

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Eastern League Stories from August 24, 2010


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