Matusz Impeaches Senators
July 7, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release
BOWIE, Md. - Brian Matusz dazzled Harrisburg hitters through 8.0 shutout innings, allowing one hit as the Baysox cruised to a 6-0 win. Shortstop Cesar Izturis sparked the offense, going 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base in the first game of his major league rehab assignment. With the win, the Baysox improve to 47-38 on the season, 8.0 games out of first place in the Southern Division.
In his last start before playing in the XM Satellite Radio Futures Game in St. Louis this Sunday, Matusz struck out 11 and facing one batter over the minimum on the night. It was the most strikeouts by a Baysox pitcher since fellow Futures Game participant Chris Tillman struck out 11 on August 8, 2008 against Binghamton.
"I feel like I've able to get stronger as the year has gone on," Matusz said. "I'm locked in right now and I feel like I'm doing what I need to do."
The only hit off Matusz came in the fourth inning, as Michael Martinez bounced a ball off the glove of a diving Mike Costanzo at third. The ball never left the infield, but it was good enough to put a runner aboard for the Senators. The left-hander responded by getting Michael Daniel to ground into a double play two pitches later. Matusz did not throw more than four balls in an inning until the fifth, throwing strike one to 18 of the 25 batters he faced.
"When you get strike one across you have a much better chance of getting hitters out," Matusz said. "I'm very happy about that today and when I did get ball one I was able to come back immediately."
The Baysox offense broke through in the third inning against Senators left-hander Matt Chico, who was making his third start on a major league rehab assignment from Washington. Left fielder Jonathan Tucker laced a two-out RBI double into the right field corner, scoring Izturis and putting the Baysox on the board.
They would tally two more runs in the fourth, as Costanzo walked to start the inning and advanced to third on a double by second baseman Miguel Abreu. After a wild pitch by Chico scored Costanzo, right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Baysox ahead by three.
After getting another run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Costanzo, the Baysox finished off their scoring by driving home two more in the sixth inning to make it a six-run lead. Designated hitter Guillermo Rodriguez singled and stole second with one out to put a runner in scoring position. Izturis was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second, and Tucker followed with an RBI single to drive in his 26th RBI of the season. First baseman Eric Crozier followed with a ground-rule double, scoring Izturis and finishing off the Baysox scoring after posting a 6-0 advantage.
After undergoing an emergency appendectomy and being placed on the Orioles disabled list on June 7, Izturis said he felt great after the layoff and was happy to be back in action again.
"Today was a good day," Izturis said. "They've got a great team here and we got some great pitching so it was a good time."
Pitching with a six-run advantage, Matusz struck out six of the final nine batters he faced, on his way to earning his fourth win of the season. Joel Guzman reached on an error to start the eighth inning, but Matusz struck out the next two hitters and got Bill Rhinehart to fly out to right to end the inning. He finished his night after 98 pitches, 72 of which were strikes, as he left the field to a raucous standing ovation at Prince George's Stadium. Pitching Coach Larry McCall said fastball location was the key to the left-hander's success on the night, and probably could have gone back out for the ninth if he had felt it was necessary.
"If this was the big leagues he would have definitely went out for the ninth." McCall said. "His job is just to get better and that is what he's doing."
Right-hander Ryan Ouellette came on for the ninth inning, shutting the door on the Baysox 13th shutout of the season. The Baysox have won four of their last five games at home, and have gone 21-16 since the beginning of June to move within 2.0 games of second place Reading.
The two teams do battle again tomorrow as RHP Tim Bascom (2-1, 3.60) takes on Harrisburg RHP Erik Arnesen (4-2, 3.47) at 7:05 p.m.
The Baysox 17th season as the class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is going strong! 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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