Cats Can't Scratch Bergesen
July 28, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release
(Bowie, MD) - Brad Bergesen needed just 95 pitches to shut down the Rock Cats in a complete game nine-inning shutout 7-0 Monday night. Bergesen was a maestro on the mound, allowing just six hits while striking out three batters. He pounded the bottom of the zone all night, collecting twice as many ground-outs as fly-outs to earn his 13th victory of the year. Carlos Rojas had his second straight three-hit game, going 3-for-4 and scoring twice.
Bergesen's 13 victories ties him for the Baysox single-season record, and his resume doesn't stop there. After closing out tonight's game, Bergesen has thrown 14 straight scoreless innings in winning his last three decisions. He has won six of his last seven starts and has 13 wins in just 18 games this season. Over the course of those 18 appearances, he has collected just two no-decisions and has never thrown fewer than 5.0 innings. He has thrown seven or more innings seven times and has only allowed more than one walk five times. Bergesen has only allowed more than three runs to score three times this season.
The Baysox spotted the righty two early runs to get him started and they never looked back. Sebastien Boucher led off the bottom of the first with a walk and Rojas lined a double down the left-field line to put runners on second and third with no outs. Lou Montanez drove a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Boucher and open the scoring. Nolan Reimold stepped in and slapped a base hit to left field to bring Rojas in to score and give the Baysox a 2-0 lead.
Bowie added two more in the bottom of the fifth. Jonathan Tucker drove a one-out base hit to right field and Blake Davis crushed his fourth homerun of the year well over the wall in right field to make the score 4-0. Davis has been on fire at the plate since early June, hitting almost .300 in that span, "I'm just not trying to do as much. That first month I was trying to do way too much and rushing everything. I think now I'm being more aggressive with the strike zone, not to swing at just anything. I just try to hit the ball hard somewhere, if you get a hit you get a hit and if you get an out you get an out."
The Baysox put up three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for good measure. Carlos Rojas hit a one-out single up the middle and Lou Montanez ripped a triple over Steven Tolleson's head in center field to bring Rojas home. Nolan Reimold drew a walk and Matt Wieters stroked a base hit up the middle to score Montanez. With Mike Rodriguez batting, Kyle Aselton threw a wild pitch that moved the runners to second and third. Rodriguez poked a single up the middle that brought Reimold home to give the Baysox a 7-0 lead.
Bergesen came out for the top of the ninth and gave up a couple hits before retiring the side to seal the complete-game shutout. Bergesen felt good after the game, "This is my second complete game so it's a great feeling out there. If I'm really trying to nitpick, I guess in the last inning I didn't put Luke Hughes away with two strikes - that's one thing that I noticed. I'm just trying to go out there and give it my best and try to help the team. It was a special night, my dad and my stepmom came out from California so it was nice to have them see that one."
Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin was pleased by his starter's effort as well, "I thought he did a heck of a job, obviously. He was pitch efficient, that's number one. I thought he stayed with the plan that me, Matt, and Bergy talked about while he was stretching in the outfield to prepare for the game. He worked the strike zone very well tonight, his sinker was really working well - he got 16 ground ball outs. He mixed in some sliders and changeups, but his sinker was outstanding tonight, for the 16 ground ball outs."
With the victory, the Baysox improve to 62-48 on the year, second place in the Southern Division. The Baysox look to make it three wins in a row Tuesday night with LHP Rommie Lewis (1-5, 4.03 ERA) going up against Rock Cats LHP Ryan Mullins (7-7, 4.28 ERA).
Tuesday night's contest with New Britain is Belly Buster Bargain Night at Prince George's Stadium. Every regular price Lower Reserve ticket gets you a free foot-long hot dog, popcorn, and a bag of peanuts. Wednesday night is Major League Baseball Madness - wear your favorite MLB gear to earn a discounted ticket to the game. Thursday night is the Baysox Diamond Dig where 50 lucky fans will have a chance to dig up a real diamond on the Prince George's Stadium infield.
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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