EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

McBride Lands First Round Knockout

Published on July 27, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


AKRON, Ohio - The Bowie Baysox fell behind early and the Akron Aeros coasted to a 4-0 win Tuesday night at Canal Park. Aeros designated hitter Matt McBride hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to cap off a four-run inning that provided the winning margin.

The Aeros knocked Baysox starter Rick Zagone off balance right away with five consecutive hits to start the bottom of the first inning. Center fielder Jordan Henry led off with a double to right field and second baseman Jason Kipnis' single to left put runners on the corners. Henry scored when third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall knocked a single into left field, leaving runners on first and second base.

Akron broke the game open on the next play, as McBride smashed the first pitch he saw over the wall in left-center field for a 4-0 lead that would prove to be decisive. Beau Mills added a single to the Aeros onslaught before shortstop Carlos Rivero lined out to center field for the first out. Zagone struck out outfielder John Drennen before giving up the sixth hit of the inning to right fielder Jerad Head on a single to left field. Zagone got out of the inning with Mills tried to push Head's single too far, and was thrown out at third base on a throw from left fielder Tyler Henson.

McBride has mangled the Baysox this year, batting .281 (16-57) with six home runs and 13 RBIs in 14 games between the clubs.

Zagone settled in nicely after his initial stumble, and pitched 7.0 innings, retiring 10 Aeros batters in a row after the first inning. Henry broke up the streak with another double to right field in the top of the fifth inning. Henry was caught stealing third during the next at-bat, and his hit was the only one Zagone gave up outside of the first inning. With the bases cleared after catcher Steve Lerud caught Henry, Zagone continued plowing through the Akron order, retiring the next seven batters before handing the reins to Jose Diaz to start the eighth inning.

Unfortunately for Zagone, his recovery amounted to nothing, as the Baysox offense could do nothing against rehabbing Cleveland Indians pitcher Anthony Reyes and relievers Rob Bryson, Connor Graham and Bryan Price, who combined to shut out the Baysox on five hits. The Baysox could never mount a rally, as those five hits each came in different innings; Henson accounted for Bowie's only two hits through the first six innings, including his 30th double of the year.

Diaz continued Zagone's good work, inducing a 3-6-3 double play to end the eighth inning after surrendering a single to Henry, who finished 3-for-4 on the night.

The Baysox saw one last glimmer of hope in the top of the ninth, as they put two runners on base for the first time all game when third baseman Brandon Waring singled to right-center field and Lerud reached on a fielding error with one out. The rally fizzled, and the game ended, when right fielder Jonathan Tucker and designated hitter L.J. Hoes flied out to left and center field, respectively.

The Baysox drop to 56-48 after the loss, but stay 4.0 games behind the Altoona Curve, in second place in the Eastern League's Western Division. The Aeros are now just a game behind the Baysox for second place and the West's final playoff spot.

Bowie will play one more game in Akron, Wednesday, at 7:05 p.m to decide the three-game series, before returning home to open a four-game series with Eastern Division cellar dwellers New Britain Thursday at 7:05 p.m. That series features fireworks on Friday and Saturday and the first game back, Thursday, is the Baysox "Salute to 'The Dude,'" a tribute to the cult classic film The Big Lebowski. Fans who come dressed as The Dude get $4 off a lower-reserved ticket, and any fan with nine toes will get a free lower-reserved ticket. On Saturday, July 31, the Baysox will attempt to break several world records, including most people sitting on whoopee cushions at the same time. Sunday's game will feature the finale of the Baysox Kids' Summer Concert Series, with a pre-game performance by Rocknoceros and a special appearance by PBS's Super Why and Alpha Pig. Fans can purchase a $10 ticket for the Rocknoceros concert that includes a general admission seat for the game.

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Eastern League Stories from July 27, 2010


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