EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Rock Cats Scratch Baysox Late

Published on June 14, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


NEW BRITAIN, Ct. - The Baysox scored first and took a lead into the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night in New Britain, but could not come away with a victory. The Rock Cats tallied a pair of unearned runs in the final frame to come out on top 6-5. With the loss, the Baysox fall to 31-30 on the season.

Left fielder Jonathan Tucker led the game off with a bang, tripling into the right field corner. Robert Valido followed with a sacrifice fly to right and the Baysox led 1-0. Tucker has excelled as the Baysox leadoff man this season, hitting .364 in nine games at the top of the lineup.

"I like being at the top of the order," Tucker said. "I like getting on base for the big hitters, I like scoring runs. I feel pretty comfortable at the top."

Baysox manager Brad Komminsk appreciates Tucker's approach. "He's a good player for us. He sees a lot of pitches, he's pesky up there. He can swing the bat."

Baysox lefty Bobby Livingston looked sharp in his return to Bowie, holding the Rock Cats to one run through the first four innings. The Rock Cats scored three runs in the fifth inning, but Livingston was a bad hop away from getting out the inning unscathed.

With the Baysox leading 1-0, Livingston allowed a single to Yancarlos Ortiz to lead off the fifth. Whitney Robbins and Danny Valencia hit one out singles and Erik Lis drove in a pair of runs with a single to center. Valencia scored on a groundout by Toby Gardenhire and the Rock Cats led 3-1. Livingston nearly had an inning-ending double play, but a ball hit off the lip of the grass near second base and got away from second baseman Miguel Abreu.

Livingston did not dwell on the misfortune. "I felt fine," Livingston said. "If that ball doesn't hit the lip and go over Abreu I probably get through six innings with two runs instead of five and two thirds with four runs. That's stuff you can't control."

Pitching Coach Larry McCall was pleased with the effort he got from his starter. "He mixed his pitches very well, he was throwing his breaking ball and fastballs for strikes."

The Baysox would jump back in front with a four-run sixth inning. Third baseman Mike Costanzo led off with a fly ball to right field that bounced over the fence for a ground rule double. Miguel Abreu hit a ball up the middle that was deflected by Rock Cats reliever Frank Mata. Costanzo reached third base safely and Abreu was credited with an infield single. Ambiorix reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Costanzo with a groundball to short. Abreu was retired at second on the play. Concepcion stole second base with designated hitter Joe Nowicki batting and Nowicki drew a walk to put runners on first and second.

Daniel Figueroa singled to left, plating Concepcion and tying the game at three. With runners still on first and second, catcher Guillermo Rodriguez hit a ball to short. Ortiz booted the ball, Nowicki scored and Figueroa wound up on third base. The Rock Cats would commit an error on the next play as well, as Tucker hit a ball sharply to third baseman Danny Valencia.

Figueroa was caught in a rundown between third base and home. Third baseman Danny Valencia had Figeruoa trapped near third base, but he dropped the ball as he attempted to tag Figueroa. Figueroa bolted for home, Valencia picked up the ball and delivered an accurate throw to the plate and catcher Jeff Christy failed to catch the ball. Figueroa scored on the play, Rodriguez wound up at third and Tucker wound up at second base with the Baysox up 5-3.

The Rock Cats put together three consecutive singles to score another run in the bottom of the sixth when Juan Portes drove in Matt Moses with a single to center. Livingston got two outs in the inning before Komminsk turned the game over to his bullpen.

Ryohei Tanaka worked a scoreless inning and has not allowed a run in his first four innings of professional work. Lefty Chad Thall retired the only batter he faced and Ryan Ouellette faced three batters in a scoreless eighth inning.

Closer Josh Perrault had a one run lead when he took the mound in the bottom of the ninth. The right-hander had not allowed an earned run in his last 14 appearances and had converted saves in nine of his first ten opportunities.

Perrault retired the first batter he faced before allowing a single to Lis. Gardenhire hit a single to left and the Rock Cats had runners on first and second with one out. The game appeared to be over when Rene Tosoni hit a ground ball to first baseman Brandon Snyder. Snyder fielded the ball cleanly and threw to second with a chance for a game-ending double play. Valido couldn't field the throw and Snyder was charged with a throwing error.

Now with the bases loaded, pinch hitter Brian Dinkelman hit a pop fly down the third base line into shallow left field. Valido made a great play to track the ball down and make a sliding catch. With two outs and the bases loaded, Matt Moses put the Baysox away with a single to center, scoring Lis and Gardenhire to end the game.

Perrault was charged with the loss and is now 0-1 with nine saves and a 1.42 ERA. RHP Fredy Deza will start for the Baysox as the teams wrap up the three game series Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The Baysox will return home for Penny Pincher Night on Tuesday, June 16. The first 500 fans who purchase regular priced lower reserved seat tickets will receive a FREE Nick Markakis Baysox t-shirt.

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 14, 2009


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