EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Sea Dogs Rally Past 'Sox Again

Published on August 4, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - For the second night in a row, the Baysox carried a lead into the ninth inning only to see the Sea Dogs come from behind to win the game. Thursday, Portland came back to win 3-2 and drop the Baysox to 61-50 on the season and out of first place in the division.

Right-handed starting pitcher Oliver Drake pitched seven and one-third scoreless innings for the Baysox and allowed just four hits while striking out six, but did not factor into the decision. Drake had allowed 13 earned runs in his past three starts, but showed improved command Thursday.

"I just tried to pound the zone and get my sinker over and I was able to get a lot of ground balls from it which really helped move the pace of the game along," Drake said. "I really just kept the ball down in the zone and was able to throw multiple pitches for strikes today, which helped keep hitters off-balance."

The Baysox took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning against Portland starter Brock Huntzinger. With two outs, left fielder L.J. Hoes drew a walk and then first baseman Joe Mahoney hit an RBI double to right field to give the Baysox a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, the Baysox added another run. With one out, catcher Steve Lerud walked and shortstop Pedro Florimon hit a double to left field that put runners at second and third base. Then with the infield playing back, right fielder Ronnie Welty knocked in the second run of the game on a ground out to the shortstop that made the score 2-0.

For the second straight night the Sea Dogs rallied in the ninth inning against right-handed reliever Pat Egan. Alex Hassan led off with a walk and John Hee singled to right field, but went to second on the throw to put runners at second and third base. Matt Spring then singled to left field to knock in Hassan and get the Sea Dogs on the board. The very next batter, Mitch Dening, hit a ground rule double to left field that scored Hee and tied the game. After an intentional walk to load the bases, right-handed reliever Wynn Pelzer replaced Egan on the mound and with the bases loaded and two outs, Jeremy Hazelbaker drew a walk that forced in a run and gave the Sea Dogs a 3-2 lead.

Left-handed reliever Pedro Viola recorded one out in the top of the eighth inning in relief of Drake. Egan pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on three hits as he was credited with the blown save and loss. Pelzer recorded the final two outs of the ninth inning for the Baysox.

The Baysox scored two early runs, but then struggled to string together hits and drive runners in, despite having runners on third base in the sixth and seventh innings. As a team, the Baysox were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

"There were some good things offensively; we just couldn't put hits together," said Manager Gary Kendall. "Early in the game we did a good job moving some runners in, but we didn't do much after that. It's a credit to their starter, he settled in and was getting his pitches over; he threw some good low strikes that were being called on us."

Mahoney hit a double and a triple in Thursday's loss and has hit two doubles and three triples in his last six games. The first baseman has been on fire from the plate and helped by the fact that Hoes is hitting in front of him and getting on base.

"I got a few pitches over the plate and I took advantage of it," Mahoney said. "I'm hitting balls hard and I'm trying to hit in those situations where there are guys on to try and get runs on the board. LJ is hitting in front of me and he's hitting [.322] and [Xavier] and Greg [Miclat] are stealing 40 bases a piece so it's nice to get those opportunities with runners in scoring position."

The Baysox are back home for seven games starting Tuesday, August 2. The home stand includes Navy Night Friday, August 5 and the Un-Birthday Big Birthday Bash Sunday August 7.

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