EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Heartbreaker Leaves Baysox on the Brink

Published on September 5, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


RICHMOND, Va. - The Bowie Baysox lost 1-0 to the Richmond Flying Squirrels Sunday evening as Richmond broke through in the eighth inning of a pitchers' duel. The loss put the Baysox playoff hopes in serious peril as they are now a game behind Harrisburg for second place and the final playoff berth with one game remaining. The best the Baysox can hope for this point is to force a one-game playoff against the Senators with a win and Harrisburg loss on Monday.

Baysox starter Steve Johnson was lights-out on the mound, finishing strong in his final start of the regular season with one hit and a walk allowed through 7.0 shutout innings as he struck out six batters. It was the best start of the year for Johnson, who finished the season with a team-best 128 strikeouts, fifth-most in the league.

The Squirrels menaced Johnson just once, in the bottom of the second inning, which Sharlon Schoop opened by reaching base on a fielding error by Baysox third baseman Brandon Waring. Two batters later, Juan Ciriaco pushed Schoop to third base with a double to left field, the only extra-base hit of the game. Catcher Tyler LaTorre drew a walk with two outs that loaded the bases before Ryan Lorman popped out to first baseman Joe Mahoney in foul territory to end the inning.

After the second inning, Johnson proceded to retire 15 batters in a row as he set about spinning a gem. Unfortunately for the Baysox, Richmond starter Craig Westcott was also in a masterful mood as Bowie notched two hits with four walks against him through six and two-thirds shutout innings.

The Baysox had their best chance in the top of the fifth inning as Mahoney drew a one-out walk before Waring pushed him to second base with a bloop single to right field. Catcher Steve Lerud loaded the bases with a walk and the bases stayed juiced when right fielder Jonathan Tucker hit a ground ball to third base that was thrown back to home plate, where Mahoney was forced out. Shortstop Carlos Rojas grounded out to third base to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Bob McCrory took over on the mound in relief of Johnson in the bottom of the eighth inning, and immediately worked his team into trouble. Nick Noonan led off the inning with a single to center field and he was soon joined on base by LaTorre, who drew a walk. Lormand hit a bunt single at McCrory that loaded the bases with no outs before Brock Bond hit a single to center field that rotated the runners and pushed Noonan across the plate for a 1-0 Squirrels lead.

Josh Perrault took over on the mound after the run scored, and did an admirable job of preventing further damage. Brad Boyer hit a grounder to Adams, who threw the ball back home to retire LaTorre for the first out. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie popped up to Rojas and was retired on the infield fly rule before Schoop grounded out to Adams to end the inning.

Unfortunately, the Baysox could not recover from the run, and Richmond closer Rafael Cova struck out left fielder Danny Figueroa, Adams and designated hitter Joel Guzman in order to end the game.

The Baysox are 75-66 on the year with one game remaining. If they beat Richmond Monday in a game that starts at 12:05 p.m., and Harrisburg loses, they will face the Senators in a one-game playoff at Prince George's Stadium on Tuesday for the right to play Altoona in the Eastern League Divisional Series. Left-hander Pedro Viola (3-3, 3.34) gets the start in the final game against Richmond.

Think Outside The Box with the Baysox in 2010. The Baysox 18th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is nearly over. 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 September 5, 2010


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