Erbe Impressive But Baysox Fall
July 30, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release
BOWIE, Md. - An inside the park home run and an error prevented the Baysox from closing out a victory as they were downed 3-2 by Connecticut Thursday afternoon. Right-hander Brandon Erbe compiled his most impressive outing since returning from the disabled list, but did not earn a decision as the Defenders struck for a run in the ninth to earn the victory. Second baseman Miguel Abreu had three hits for the Baysox, collecting his 35th multi-hit game of the season.
Erbe allowed a run in the first inning as Brock Bond doubled to start the game. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brad Boyer, Bond scored on a groundout by Brett Pill. After walking the next three batters, Erbe struck out Bobby Felmy swinging to get out of the inning without further damage.
"I thought he was overthrowing a bit in the first inning," Baysox Pitching Coach Larry McCall said. "Once he gave up the hit and scored the run I thought he was trying to do too much and ended up behind in the count."
The Baysox offense answered with a single run in the bottom of the first against Connecticut left-hander Jesse English. Left fielder Jonathan Tucker led off the inning with a walk and stole second base. English struck out center fielder Danny Figueroa and first baseman Eric Crozier swinging, but issued a walk to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion to put men on first and second with two outs. Abreu followed with his team-leading 24th double of the season into the left field corner. Tucker scored easily, but Concepcion was gunned down at the plate after a great relay throw by Connecticut shortstop Brandon Crawford.
The two teams remained tied at one until the fifth inning, when the Baysox got on the board again after a leadoff double by shortstop Robert Valido. After moving to third on a groundout by third baseman Jason White, Valido scored on a sacrifice fly by Tucker to give the Baysox a 2-1 lead.
Erbe settled down after throwing 30 pitches in the first inning, retiring 14 of the next 15 batters he faced until Eddy Martinez-Esteve stepped to the plate with two outs in the sixth inning. The Connecticut right fielder hit a ball down the right field line, as Concepcion made a diving attempt. Concepcion came up empty, and was injured on the play, allowing Martinez-Esteve to circle the bases for his sixth home run of the season.
Erbe finished the inning and came out for the start of the sixth inning, striking out the first two hitters he faced to start the frame. After a single by Sharlon Schoop, manager Brad Komminsk went to his bullpen as Erbe left to a nice ovation from the 3,411 fans at Prince George's Stadium The right-hander finished his afternoon after 6.2 innings of work, allowing two earned runs on four hits, striking out five and walking three. After missing two months of action earlier in the season with shoulder fatigue, Erbe says he is finally starting to put it all back together again and hopes to make a big impact on the team down the stretch.
"I had a really good changeup and slider today to offset my fastball," Erbe said. "Later on in the game I felt glimpses of the fastball getting there, but as I go from start to start it is starting to come back together."
Right-hander Fredy Deza came on for the Baysox, tossing a scoreless eighth inning before an error gave Connecticut a chance in the ninth. Martinez-Esteve led off with a bouncer to third, but Jason White's throw was in the dirt and skipped past Crozier at first for a two-base error. Crawford took the first pitch he saw after the error and ripped it into center field for a single, scoring pinch runner Mike McBryde and putting the Defenders on top.
Right-hander Shane Kaufman earned the win for Connecticut, pitching scoreless eighth and ninth innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. The Baysox finish their home stand with a record of 3-4, and head north to begin a season-long nine-game road trip in New Britain tomorrow. In the midst of a four-team playoff race, Baysox skipper Brad Komminsk knows this road swing can be the push needed to propel his team to the post-season.
"We've been hovering between eight and ten games above .500 here for a while," Komminsk said. "Hopefully on the road trip we can put a little run together and add on to that mark a little bit."
In tomorrow's contest, RHP Tim Bascom (2-2, 3.48) takes the mound for the Baysox in search of his third win of the season. The two teams take the field at New Britain Stadium beginning at 7:05 p.m.
The Baysox 17th season as the class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is going strong! Check out www.baysox.com to see all that's going on at the stadium this year, and don't miss a moment of the action as the Baysox attempt to bring home their first Eastern League championship. Individual game tickets and ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the Baysox box office at (301) 464-4865.
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