EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Curve Knock 'Sox Out of Second

Published on August 31, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Baysox lost their third straight game to Altoona 2-0 at home Wednesday night. It was the team's 13th shutout loss of the season and it drops the Baysox to 72-64 on the season and out of playoff position in the Western Division.

Right-handed starting pitcher Tim Bascom pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out a career-high 10 batters, but was still tagged with the loss. Bascom allowed both runs in the first inning before he and reliever Chorye Spoone combined to pitch eight scoreless innings, but the damage was already done.

"It seems like the first inning gets to me a little bit, but once I get settled in I start doing better so maybe I just need to do something a little different in the first inning," Bascom said. "I feel like I really kept them off-balance from the first inning on - I was able to throw any pitch I wanted in any count and that really kept them off-balance. When I got late in counts, I was able to maximize where [the umpire] was calling pitches for strikes - when he's giving you the inside corner, you just have to go with it."

The Curve jumped out to the early lead in the top of the first inning against Bascom. With two outs, Jeremy Farrell singled to right field and then Andrew Lambo hit his eighth home run of the season to left-center field to give the Curve a 2-0 lead.

After losing three in a row to Altoona and six of their last seven games, the Baysox have fallen out of playoff position for the first time since July 31 when they were in third place and one game out of first place. The Baysox currently trail Richmond by a half game after the Flying Squirrels victory over New Britain Wednesday night.

"Whether we are in [the playoffs] or not in this, I would want to play better because you always want to play better down the stretch," said Manager Gary Kendall. "That's the thing that's bothering me the most because whether we get in or not - and I hope we do because we're right here - but you want to play good down the stretch. You want to finish the season the way Altoona is playing; you want to finish on a high note."

The Baysox best scoring opportunity came in the third inning after back-to back singles by catcher Caleb Joseph and first baseman Aaron Baker to lead off the inning. Shortstop Pedro Florimon then failed to get a sacrifice bunt down and center fielder Xavier Avery struck out for the first two outs of the inning. Second baseman Buck Britton singled to the pitcher to load the bases, but right fielder LJ Hoes flied out to end the inning.

For the remainder of the game, the Baysox only recorded two hits, though they did advance a runner to third base in the ninth inning. It was the second night in a row the Baysox offense managed just five hits and struggled against Altoona's starting pitchers. Tuesday's starter Kyle McPherson and Wednesday's starter Phil Irwin combined to pitch 12 scoreless innings to help the Curve get out in front in both games.

In the seventh and eighth innings the Curve threatened to extend their lead, but solid pitching by Bascom and Spoone prevented Altoona from scoring any more runs. In the seventh inning, the Curve put runners at second and third base with one out before Bascom struck out the final two batters. In the eighth inning, Altoona put a runner at third with one out, but Spoone was able to record a strikeout and line-out to get out of the inning.

"It would have been nice to just get on the board to take the pressure off of Bascom because he's out there and he gives up two runs early and pitched a magnificent game, but the pressure is on him to hold them every inning and hopefully we can come in and score," Kendall said. "I hate that pressure being on the pitching staff and Bascom because he was really good tonight."

Thursday, RHP Oliver Drake (2-5, 5.71) takes the mound for the Baysox as they finish their series with the Altoona Curve. His opponent will be RHP Mike Colla (5-10, 3.71).

The Baysox are home through Monday, Sep. 5 for an eight game home stand to finish the regular season. Promotions during the home stand include a Brian Matusz bobblehead giveaway Thursday, Sep. 1 and Fan Appreciation Day Sunday, Sep. 4.

Check out the Chesapeake Baysox Statistics

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



Eastern League Stories from August 31, 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.

OurSports Central