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EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

SeaWolves score early, often to avoid Baysox sweep

August 7, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - Erie's seven-run outburst in the top of the third proved too much for the Baysox to handle, as the SeaWolves avoided a sweep with a 13-8 victory at Prince George's Stadium on Sunday.

The loss drops the Baysox (58-56) back into a tie with Erie (58-56) for third place in the Eastern League's Southern Division.

The Baysox scored in the first inning for the third straight game. Nick Markakis put the Baysox ahead, 1-0, with a double to left that scored Peter Bergeron from second base.

Bowie's the lead did not last long. Baysox starter Kurt Birkins had escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first, but was not so lucky in third. Mike Rabelo started the onslaught with a three-run homer to left. Birkins (6-9) later gave up a two-run double to Victor Mendez and a two-run blast to Chris Maples. Erie emphatically took its first lead of the series, 7-1.

Simon Pond got one run back for the Baysox with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, but Erie plated three more runs in the fourth. After reliever Matt Bruback sprinkled a pair of singles around two strikeouts, the Baysox elected to intentionally walk David Espinosa with two outs and first base open. The decision backfired when Mike Woods cleared the bases with a double to deep center that extended Erie's lead to 10-2.

Pond kept the Baysox within striking distance in the fifth. With the Baysox trailing 11-2, Bergeron and Brandon Fahey singled to start the inning. SeaWolves pitcher John Birtwell retired the next two batters, but Pond blasted a three-run homer to pull Bowie within six.

Pond finished the night 3-for-5 with four RBI, capping a torrid week in which he hit .391 with four doubles, two homers, and 12 runs driven in.

Mike Huggins closed the gap further with a two-run shot in the seventh. It was Huggins' second homer of the year and first since May 28.

Erie responded to the Baysox' rally with two runs in the top of the eighth, pulling ahead 13-7. Joey Hammond brought home a run with a triple to deep center in the bottom of the inning, but that was as close as the Baysox would make it.

BAYSOX NOTES: Because Huggins and Omar Rogers entered the game as substitute, catcher Ryan Hubele was the only position player available on the bench by the end of the game. The teams combined to use ten pitchers...Erie pitcher Humberto Sanchez started the game by walking Bergeron. He threw one more pitch, a ball to Fahey, then left the game with a leg injury. Sanchez, who left his last start on July 29 with a strained right groin, had been activated from the disabled list prior to the game...The Orioles announced on Sunday that Baysox hitting coach Butch Davis has been promoted to Class AAA Ottawa for the remainder of the season. Davis will replace Dave Cash, who was promoted to Baltimore to be the first base coach on the Orioles' reshuffled coaching staff. Davis will be replaced in Bowie by minor league hitting instructors Tom Lawless and Julio Vinas on a rotating basis.

ON DECK: The Baysox embark on a ten-game road trip through Pennsylvania, beginning Monday at 7:05 p.m. in Altoona. The Baysox trail the Curve for the Southern Division's final playoff spot. RHP Cory Morris (6-4, 2.64 ERA) will face RHP Jason Roach (1-1, 5.40 ERA) in the first of three games.

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