EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Mariotti Mightier Than Reading

Published on June 16, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Baysox opened a six-game home stand Tuesday night by downing Reading 3-2 at Prince George's Stadium. Right-hander John Mariotti tossed 7.0 strong innings for his second win of the year, while second baseman Miguel Abreu had two hits and drove in two of the Baysox three runs.

Reading jumped on Mariotti in the first inning, taking advantage of a few softly hit balls that found holes in the Baysox defense. Quintin Berry reached on an infield single to lead off the game. Gus Milner followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After a fielders' choice by Michael Taylor erased Berry at third, Jeremy Slayden lifted a broken bat single over the defense to load the bases. Mariotti walked Neil Sellers on four pitches to force in the first Phillies run. Michael Stavisky lifted a sacrifice fly to score another run, but Sellers was thrown out trying to tag up to second to get Mariotti out of the jam.

After the first inning, Mariotti settled down and held the Phillies scoreless through the next six innings. After allowing nine earned runs in his first three starts of the season, the Toronto native has allowed six earned runs in his last five starts, lowering his ERA to 3.14 on the season.

"I calmed myself down (after the first inning)," Mariotti said. "I think I was just trying to do a little bit too much out there."

Down 2-0, the Baysox offense mounted a two-out rally against Phillies right-hander Vance Worley in the third inning. First baseman Brandon Snyder walked and third baseman Mike Costanzo singled to put two runners on with two-out for Miguel Abreu. The Baysox second baseman drilled a Worley offering off the base of the left field wall to score Snyder. Costanzo looked to come all the way around from first to tie the game at two, but was thrown out at home to keep the Phillies in front by one.

That changed in the fourth inning, as Ambiorix Concepcion jumped on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth inning and drove it off the foul pole in left. The solo blast was the right fielder's third of the season and tied the score at two apiece.

The Baysox continued to chip away, scoring another run in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Much like the third inning, Snyder walked and Costanzo singled to put runners on first and second for Abreu. This time Abreu lifted a bloop single into center field, scoring Snyder and giving Abreu his 18th RBI of the season. The middle of the Baysox order was a tough out for Reading pitchers all night, as Snyder, Costanzo and Abreu combined to reach base eight times on the night. Costanzo was playing with a little added incentive, taking on a Reading team for which he was an Eastern League All-Star in 2007.

"It's always good to do well against the team that traded you," Costanzo said. "I hope tonight is a step in the right direction and I can turn it up a notch."

Pitching with a 3-2 lead heading into the sixth, Mariotti set the Phillies down with the help of a double play to end the inning. He began to labor in the seventh, as Ozzie Chavez led off the inning with a bunt base hit and moved into scoring position with two outs. Mariotti fell behind in the count 2-1 to Milner, but got the Phillies right fielder to fly out to center field to end the threat.

"I'm just glad (Milner) swung at that slider," Mariotti said. "I mean it was a decent pitch but I was running out of gas and had nothing left."

Right-hander Ryan Ouellette came on to work a perfect eighth inning for the Baysox. The right-hander continued to be a go-to set up man in the bullpen, notching his sixth hold of the season and lowering his ERA to 1.00 on the season. In 18.0 innings of work, Ouellette has allowed two earned runs while holding hitters to a .194 average.

Closer Josh Perrault came on in the ninth, setting Reading down in order to earn his 10th save of the season. The right-hander has been dominant since taking over the closers role for the Baysox, not allowing an earned run in his last 16 appearances.

"It's awesome the team has confidence to throw me out there in the ninth inning," Perrault said of being the team's closer. "You know when you're going to pitch and it's easier to get yourself mentally prepared and be more aggressive."

The win improves the Baysox to 33-30 on the season, 8.5 games behind Akron for the Southern Division lead. The two teams will do battle again tomorrow as LHP Brian Matusz makes his Baysox debut against Reading RHP Mike Stutes (4-2, 4.43) on Matt Wieters Figurine Night at Prince George's Stadium. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Baysox 17th season as the class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway! 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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Eastern League Stories from June 16, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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