EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Gleason Silences Senators

Published on May 31, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md - Sean Gleason pitched seven strong innings and right fielder Joe Nowicki blasted his fifth home run of the season as the Baysox bested the Senators 7-4. With the win, the Baysox (25-22) finish the month of May having lost only one series while creeping up to within 6.5 games of the Eastern League South lead.

"The defense was great today," Gleason said. "Our hitters and defense are playing really well and we're meshing as a team."

Gleason loaded the bases with one out in the first inning before getting a strikeout and a fly ball to end the threat. His defense would help him out in the second and third innings, as first baseman Michael Costanzo started two 3-6-3 double plays to help him out of jams. Gleason held Harrisburg scoreless until the seventh inning, when a two-run double by Edgardo Baez got the Senators on the board. Gleason finished the inning before being giving way to the bullpen, allowing two runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out five in his 7.0 innings of work. The win was Gleason's third in his last four starts and improved his record to 3-3 in eight starts with the Baysox this season.

"He's learned how to pitch," Baysox Pitching Coach Larry McCall said. "Today was definitely his best outing since he's been here."

The Baysox got on the board first with a single run in the third inning off Senators starter Erik Arnesen. Right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion led off the inning with a single and would advance to second on a wild pitch by Arnesen. One batter later, center fielder Dave Krynzel drove him home with a line drive single to center to put the Baysox in front.

The big blow came in the fourth inning off the bat of Nowicki. Second baseman Miguel Abreu singled to start the inning and stole second for the second time on the day. One batter later, catcher Adam Donachie walked to put runners at first and second for Nowicki. The Baysox right fielder hung tough, fouling off a pair of pitches with two strikes before getting a hanging slider over the middle of the plate and crushing it over the wall in right.

"They kept throwing me fastballs up and in," said Nowicki. "I figured at some point he would have to throw me an off-speed pitch and I was ready for it."

After the Senators cut the deficit to 4-2 in the seventh, the Baysox offense answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Designated hitter Guillermo Rodriguez singled to start the inning off Harrisburg reliever Matt Avery. Concepcion followed with a base hit to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Robert Valido, Avery walked Krynzel intentionally to load the bases. Left fielder Jonathan Tucker lifted a sacrifice fly to left which plated Rodriguez for the first run of the inning. On the play, Bill Rhinehart's relay throw home skipped away from catcher Luke Montz, allowing the runners to advance into scoring position. Abreu followed with a bouncer to third that skipped off the glove of Joel Guzman allowing both runners to score to give the Baysox a 7-2 lead.

Wilfrido Perez came on in the eighth inning and struggled with his control. After a one out single to Leonard Davis, Perez walked four of the next five hitters he faced and two runs crossed the plate to make the score 7-4. Closer Josh Perrault came on to record the final out, getting Baez to ground into a fielders' choice to end the inning. He would come back in the ninth and close out the victory, earning his sixth save of the season.

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Eastern League Stories from May 31, 2009


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