EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Gamboa's Blunder Hands Win to Thunder

Published on May 8, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


TRENTON, N.J. -- The Bowie Baysox lost their third consecutive game Saturday after a bases-loaded walk-off wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning by Baysox reliever Eddie Gamboa. Bowie drops to 15-15 on the year, five games behind the Altoona Curve and in fourth in the Eastern League's six-team Western Division.

Bowie starter Tim Bascom pitched well, giving up seven hits but allowing just two runs in six innings pitched. He mitigated his high hit count with a season-best eight strikeouts and no walks.

The Baysox took the lead in the third inning thanks in part to outstanding hustle by center fielder Miguel Abreu, who narrowly beat out a throw from shortstop Luis Nunez for an infield single. Catcher Caleb Joseph followed with a single to left field but was out at second as Pedro Florimon grounded into a double play that moved Abreu to third base. Jonathan Tucker, the Baysox leader in stolen bases last year, drew a walk in his first at-bat back with Bowie after being transferred from Norfolk. Second baseman Ryan Adams cleared the bases with a two-out double, his 11th two-bagger of the year, to give the Baysox a 2-0 lead.

A scary moment came in the top of the sixth, when Thunder starter Lance Pendleton drilled left fielder Tyler Henson in the head to end a long at-bat that the Baysox RBIs leader extended with several foul balls. Fortunately, his batting helmet served its purpose well, as Henson took his base and was able to play the rest of the game.

Bascom gave up four hits through the first five innings, and stayed out of trouble by avoiding walks and getting strikeouts in critical situations. His only blemish in the game came in the bottom of the sixth frame, when he gave up a left field single to third baseman Brandon Laird before Reid Gorecki hammered a home run to left center and erased the Baysox lead.

Right hander Pedro Beato took the ball in the bottom of the seventh and retired the Thunder in order, striking out center fielder Austin Krum to end the inning.

Tucker drew another walk with one out and was back to his speedy ways as he stole second base with Adams batting. Third baseman Brandon Waring gave Beato a chance at his second win of the year with a single to center field that plated Tucker from second as the Baysox went up 3-2.

Beato was in trouble right away when he gave up a leadoff triple in the bottom of the eighth to second baseman David Adams. He struck out Trenton catcher Austin Romine before walking Laird to put runners on the corners with just one out. Beato displayed the poise that has earned the Baysox bullpen a staff ERA of 2.18, striking out Gorecki and outfielder Dan Brewer to escape the jam and preserve the lead.

He left the mound in the final stanza for Eddie Gamboa to try and get the save, and the right-hander retired the first two batters he faced before designated hitter Justin Christian singled to right and quickly stole second. Krum drew a walk before David Adams plated Christian for the tying run with a two-out single up the middle. The pressure mounted on Gamboa when he walked Romine to load the bases and he let the game slip away with a wild pitch to Laird that sent Krum sliding head-first across the plate for the win.

It was a rare meltdown for the Baysox bullpen, which had not allowed an earned run since April 28, and Gamboa's first blown save since last August when he was with the Frederick Keys.

The Baysox will look to avoid the sweep in a 1:05 p.m. matinee game Sunday before finally heading home to Bowie on Monday for series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Erie SeaWolves. The first game back begins at 7:05 p.m. Monday.

Monday's game will be the Baysox inaugural Beard-a-Palooza, where any fan with a beard may purchase half-priced lower reserved seat tickets ($7) for the game, limit one per beard. Fans who cannot grow a beard are encouraged to make one! Between-inning contests include "What's In the Beard" and longest and most colorful beards.

Think Outside The Box with the Baysox in 2010. The Baysox 18th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway. Catch all the action in Natural Definition! Baysox full-season and partial-season ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the group sales department at (301) 464-4880.

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Eastern League Stories from May 8, 2010


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