EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Blasts Can't Bail Out Baysox

Published on June 4, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie Baysox lost 6-3 to the Erie SeaWolves Friday on a steamy, humid night at Prince George's Stadium. Three solo home runs were all the scoring the Baysox could muster, as they were out-hit 13-8. It was the third win of the year for Erie starter Thad Weber, all of whose wins have come at Bowie's expense.

"He beat us three times," Manager Brad Komminsk said. "He probably wishes all his starts were against us. I'm glad they're not. He doesn't have anything special, but he gets us out. He's got something on us."

Starting pitcher Tim Bascom took the loss with four runs, all earned, off seven hits through 5.0 innings. He had an uncharacteristically difficult time finding the strike zone, walking two batters and getting into deep counts with several more.

"They're really aggressive swingers," said Bascom. "When you're not throwing pitches for strikes, they can just sit on one pitch and that's what they did to me tonight.

"I was a little off," he continued. "It was tough getting in a zone tonight. I really didn't feel like my usual self until the fifth inning and that's when things finally started to get a little bit better for me, the fifth inning. Hopefully it doesn't happen, but sometimes it does and that's just baseball, that's the way it goes sometimes."

"Tim struggled a little with his command but he really battled through those innings," said catcher Steve Lerud. "He knew he didn't have his best stuff, but the biggest thing you want to see out of a guy on a night like that is showing that he can still compete and he did a good job of that. He got through five [innings] and we were still in the ballgame at the end of the game. That's all you can ask of your starter."

The SeaWolves opened the scoring in the third inning with a two-run blast by left fielder Andy Dirks that sailed just inside the right foul pole, bringing along outfielder Josh Burrus, who led the inning off with a double.

Erie third baseman Audy Ciriaco got aboard with a double in the top of the fourth and was brought home by catcher Andy Bouchie, who hit another two-run bomb over the left field wall on Bascom's first pitch.

The Baysox responded in the bottom of the frame when designated hitter Caleb Joseph and right fielder Joel Guzman touched off back-to-back home runs to cut the deficit to 4-2. It was the second time this year that consecutive batters have homered for the Baysox, after Brandon Waring and Guzman did it on April 21, at Erie. Guzman's homer was his team-leading 12th of the season, pulling him into a tie for second most in the Eastern League.

"I see the ball pretty good here," said Guzman, who has hit eight of his long-balls at Prince George's Stadium. "You hit good at home. I wish I was hitting good everywhere, but I feel pretty good, pretty comfortable here."

Right handers Jim Hoey and Brandon Cooney did well to hold the SeaWolves in place after Bascom left the mound to start the sixth inning. They combined to give up three hits with no runs, and struck out five batters in their three innings of work.

Left fielder Tyler Henson hit his second home run in three days with a solo shot to dead center to begin the bottom of the seventh inning and pulled the Baysox within a run.

Right-handed reliever Pedro Beato entered in the top of the ninth, and gave up a single to Dirks on a line drive to center with one out. Beato then walked designated hitter Cesar Nicolas and gave up a single to center by first baseman Michael Bertram that sent Dirks home from second. Nicolas came around for one more insurance run when Audy Ciriaco sent a grounder in to left field for a base hit to leave the Baysox down 6-2.

The Baysox threatened to rally in the bottom of the ninth, after first baseman Robbie Widlansky was hit by a pitch to lead off the half-inning. Lerud hit a ground ball at the first baseman, who dove to get the ball and tossed it to the pitcher, Zach Simons, who couldn't handle it as Lerud reached first safely. Shortstop Matt Tucker came to the plate representing the tying run, but hit a harmless grounder to the second baseman, which quickly turned into a game-ending double play.

The loss drops the Baysox into third place at 28-27, nine games behind league leaders Altoona.

Bowie will face the SeaWolves two more times in this series before they embark on a six-game road trip to Binghamton and Harrisburg. Saturday's game is Louie's Big Birthday Bash, as the Baysox loveable green mascot will celebrate his birthday in style with several of his mascot friends and a pre-game concert for kids by Milkshake. Louie's Kids Club members and their parents can buy tickets for $12 that include admission to the pre-game concert, a lower reserved ticket in Louie's Birthday Section, a wristband for free rides and games in Louie's Kids Park, birthday cake, and a goody bag. Tickets are $10 and include admission to the pre-game concert, and a general admission seat ticket for the Baysox game.

Check out the Chesapeake Baysox Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from June 4, 2010


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.

OurSports Central