EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Boucher, Berken Buoy Baysox

Published on July 22, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


(Bowie, MD) - The Baysox got another seven innings of work out of starter Jason Berken and two more solo homeruns from Sebastien Boucher to beat the Senators 4-1 Tuesday night. Berken, who threw a seven-inning complete game his last start, allowed just a run on two hits through seven. He walked four batters but struck out five on the way to his eighth victory of the year.

Boucher got the ball rolling with one out in the bottom of the first inning with a blast over the wall in center field. This was the third straight game in which Boucher has hit a homerun.

The Senators got one right back in the top of the second inning when Berken walked Ofilio Castro to lead off the inning. Devin Ivany moved Castro to third with a one-out base hit to center field and Matt Rogelstad brought him home with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.

The Baysox would answer with runs in each of their next three turns at bat. Ryan Finan hit a solo homerun of his own in the bottom of the second, his first long ball since coming back from an ankle injury. "Basically I haven't been feeling too well since I came back from the injury, just wanted to take a few extra swings. I was working with Moe and we noticed that I'm a little bit too narrow in my stance so we spread it out a little bit so I can start using my hands more. We were just working on hands, hands, hands, and find the barrel of the bat and it worked out for me with one swing of the bat tonight."

Boucher hit another solo bomb in the bottom of the third inning, this one to right field with one out. In addition to hitting homeruns in each of his last three games, his second Tuesday gives him four homeruns in his last six at-bats. The man is on fire, "I think it's the water or something. I hit three in a row in high school, that's about it. I feel really good at the plate, I'm seeing the ball real well. I'm able to put good swings on the ball and I'm getting good at-bats and they're working for me, maybe the wind helped a little bit. Actually I'm just working on staying back and keeping my balance. I noticed a little while ago that I was leaning in over the plate and right now I'm just trying to keep my chest up and relax my arms."

The Baysox capped the scoring with another run in the bottom of the fourth. Jeff Nettles popped out to lead off the inning and Ryan Finan hit a routine ground ball to second base that evaded Matt Rogelstad for an error. Carlos Rojas smoked a line drive at first baseman Bill Rhinehart but the ball was hit so hard it popped out of his glove for a base hit. With runners on first and second, Blake Davis blooped a base hit into shallow center field. Finan came in to score and give Bowie a 4-1 lead but Rojas was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play. Jonathan Tucker flied out to end the inning.

Berken took over from there. He was economical with his pitches for the second straight start. He couldn't pinpoint anything he's doing differently, "I don't know exactly what's changed, really. I've been pitching to contact more, using my two-seamer to get more ground balls and double plays. Tonight was maybe one of those nights where I'm kind of effectively wild, it's the first time I walked four guys all year but fortunately I made the pitches when I had to and the defense turned some double plays that were huge and bailed me out of some innings. I think I did a good job of getting quick outs and pitching to contact which is what allowed me to go so long tonight."

Ryan Keefer worked a perfect eighth inning, recording two strikeouts and Julio Manon worked a shutout ninth inning to earn his 24th save of the year. With the victory, the Baysox improve to 59-45, four and a half games back of first-place Akron in the Southern Division. The Baysox look to take three straight from the Senators Wednesday night with RHP Brad Bergesen (11-3, 3.05 ERA) facing Harrisburg LHP Justin Jones (2-0, 5.56 ERA).

The teams will meet again Wednesday night for National Gorgeous Grandma Night! Join the Baysox as they take part in this national celebration of Grandmas. Treat your Gorgeous Grandma to a night at the ballpark. Thursday the Baysox will play the Senators in an 11:05 a.m. day game. Thursday is Summer Camp day at Prince George's Stadium, come out and enjoy a Baysox afternoon game.

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 22, 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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