EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Senators Impeach Baysox

Published on July 25, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Senators used an eight run fifth inning to dominate the Baysox, winning 13-2 in Bowie Monday night. With the loss, the Baysox drop to 55-45 on the season and 1.5 games out of first place.

The 11-run deficit was the largest of the season for the Baysox, topping the previous high of nine runs set April 23 against Erie. Harrisburg was coming off a series where they lost five of six in Richmond and was out for revenge Monday night.

"They had their hitting shoes on," said Manager Gary Kendall. "They were a team that has been struggling on that end of it and everything they started to hit started to fall. They hit the ball hard - to their credit. And our bullpen didn't give us that much relief to try and hold the game there, it just got out of hand."

The Baysox took the early lead in the bottom of the second inning against Harrisburg starter Tanner Roark. First baseman Joe Mahoney led off with a single to left-center field and he advanced to third on an error by Roark on a pickoff attempt and a ground out by catcher Caleb Joseph. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Buck Britton to make the score 1-0.

Left-handed starting pitcher Zach Britton faced just 12 total batters in the first four innings, but the Senators sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth inning and took control of the game. They loaded the bases with one out and then Stephen King hit a bases clearing triple to right field to give the Senators their first lead. Chris McConnell followed with a single through the hole at shortstop that knocked in another run. With two outs, shortstop Pedro Florimon committed an error to extend the inning, allowing Bill Rhinehart and Tyler Moore to hit back-to-back home runs that made the score 8-1. Right-handed reliever Wynn Pelzer entered the game to record the final out of the inning.

In the seventh inning, the Senators added another run against Pelzer. Derek Norris was hit by a pitch and went to second when Rhinehart singled to right field. Moore reached on a fielding error by Britton that loaded the bases and Bryce Harper then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make the score 9-1.

"I happened to get in there a little bit earlier tonight, but I still have to go out there and do my job whenever they put me in the game," Pelzer said. "You just go out there and try to make good pitches and get outs. It was just a tough night; they were swinging the bat really well."

The Senators tacked on four more runs in the eighth inning when they batted around for the second time in the game. McConnell started the scoring with a double to left field that knocked in King from second base. Then with two runners on, Norris hit a two-run double to left field that extended the lead to 11 runs. Right-handed reliever Raul Rivero then replaced Pelzer on the mound before Chris Rahl capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single up the middle that made the score 13-1.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Joel Polanco, in his first at bat of the season, knocked in a runner with a single to center field that made the score 13-2.

Britton pitched four and two-thirds innings and allowed eight runs (four earned) on eight hits while striking out nine as he was credited with the loss. Pelzer pitched two and one-third innings in relief of Britton and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits. Rivero the final two innings of the game and did not allow a run while giving up two hits and striking out three batters.

The Baysox entered the game with a league-best 17-5 record in the month of July, but have now lost two straight games for the first time since June 27-29 when they were swept on the road in Akron.

The Baysox struggled defensively Monday night, committing three errors that led to six unearned runs being scored.

"There were a couple of balls in the outfield that I thought we didn't break on well enough to make plays," Kendall said. "Even with that situation, we just didn't make good decisions in the infield. A double play ball in a 1-0 game you have to try to get the double play - you don't get the back end its 1-1. A bad decision was made and it was reviewed and I am sure it won't happen again."

Tuesday, LHP Rick Zagone (3-6, 4.62) takes the mound for the Baysox as they take on the Harrisburg Senators. His opponent will be RHP Erik Davis (5-5, 4.66).

The Baysox are home through Wednesday, July 27 for a seven game home stand that features Tailgate Tuesday, July 26 and a day game starting at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, July 27.

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Eastern League Stories from July 25, 2011


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