EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Harrisburg Homers Take Series

Published on July 27, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Harrisburg Senators used three home runs to top the Baysox 6-3 Wednesday afternoon and win the series in Bowie. With the loss, the Baysox drop to 56-46 on the season and one and a half games out of first place.

In total, there were five home runs hit in the game as first baseman Brandon Waring and right fielder Ronnie Welty each hit a long ball for the Baysox. For Welty, the home run was his first in 15 games and Bryce Harper hit his first career Double-A home run.

Waring gave the Baysox the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a one out home run to left field against Harrisburg starter Oliver Perez. It was his team-leading 14th home run of the season and it gave the Baysox a 1-0 lead.

The Senators tied the game in the top of the fifth inning against left-handed starting pitcher Mike Ballard. Tim Pahuta and Devin Ivany hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Ballard then attempted a pick off on Pahuta at second base and threw the ball into center field to allow both runners to get into scoring position. After a strikeout by Stephen King for the first out of the inning, Chris McConnell hit a sacrifice fly to left field to even the game at 1-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Senators took the lead on back-to-back home runs by Harper and Pahuta to make the score 3-1. They extended the lead to five runs on a three-run home by Devin Ivany in the top of the ninth inning against right-handed reliever Armando Gabino that made the score 6-1.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Baysox got two runs back against Harrisburg reliever Rafael Martin. Left fielder Buck Britton was hit by a pitch to start the inning and then Welty hit his 11th home run of the season to cut the lead to 6-3. Welty had an interesting game at the plate as he walked in each of his three at bats before hitting a homer in the ninth inning.

"I was just trying to stay relaxed today, get some good pitches to hit," Welty said. "I continually try to work the count and look for a good pitch to hit, not be so aggressive sometimes and swing at some bad pitches. I feel like when I'm patient and relaxed I can do some damage."

Ballard pitched six and two-thirds innings and allowed two runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out eight as he was credited with his first loss of the season.

"Early on I was pretty strong, but I kind of got away from that at the end," Ballard said. "I left a 0-2 pitch up to Harper and he hit it out and then hung a 0-1 changeup to Pahuta and he hit it out. I feel like it was one of those starts where I was cruising early and it kind of got away from me late."

Right-handed reliever Chorye Spoone pitched one and one-third scoreless innings in relief of Ballard and allowed one hit while striking out one. Gabino pitched the ninth inning for the Baysox and allowed three runs on three hits.

The Baysox drew five walks against Perez, but struggled to get hits with runners in scoring position as they were 0-for-6 with 10 men left on. In the first six innings of the game, the Baysox put a runner on base, but were only able to score one run as Perez was effective getting out of jams.

"We put some good swings on the guy and we just couldn't do much with them," said Manager Gary Kendall. "We couldn't do much with them the last time we faced [Perez] at their place; he's just one of those guys we don't do well with - It's almost like facing a knuckleball pitcher. He throws soft and changes speeds effectively."

Thursday, RHP Tim Bascom (6-2, 2.94) takes the mound for the Baysox as they travel to New Britain to take on the Rock Cats. His opponent will be RHP Matt Schuld (0-2, 10.66).

The Baysox begin a five game road trip to New Britain Thursday, July 28 and are back home for seven games starting Thursday, August 2.

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Eastern League Stories from July 27, 2011


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