EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Senators Prevail In Bullpen Battle

Published on May 30, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - Center fielder Dave Krynzel had three hits including an RBI single, but the Senators pulled away late with an 8-4 victory Friday night at Prince George's Stadium. Right-hander Pat Egan made his Baysox debut in relief of starter Ryan Keefer, tossing 4.0 shutout innings against a Harrisburg offense which pounded out 15 hits on the night.

The Baysox offense got on the board in the first inning as Krynzel led off the inning with a single to right field off Senators starter Adrian Alaniz. Left fielder Jonathan Tucker followed with a single, and first baseman Brandon Snyder worked the count to 3-1 before Alaniz left with an injury. Left-hander Cory VanAllen came on in relief and allowed a bloop base-hit to Snyder to load the bases. Third baseman Michael Costanzo lifted a sacrifice fly deep to center field, plating Krynzel with the first run of the game.

Krynzel has sparked the top of the Baysox lineup this season, hitting .296 with a .353 on-base percentage in 22 games as the leadoff hitter this season. He has collected three or more hits in five games this season. After missing most of the last two years with injury, the 27-year-old former first round pick says it has been a long process to get to where he was as a hitter.

"I'm still missing some pitches," Krynzel said. "I'm working hard to have more of a game plan of what the pitcher is throwing out there and trying to get into good counts."

After getting through the first inning unscathed, Keefer struggled in the second as eight straight Senators reached base to start the second inning. Marvin Lowrance started the inning with the first of six straight Senators hits. Luke Montz reached on a bunt single and both runners advanced on a passed ball by catcher Guillermo Rodriguez. Bill Rhinehart followed with a bloop to center that fell in between three Baysox for an RBI single. Krynzel threw to third on the play, but Montz slid in safely as Rhinehart advanced to second. Matt Whitney followed with a two-run single to make the score 3-1. After a double by Ofilio Castro to put runners on second and third again with nobody out, Michael Daniel laced an RBI single to right but was caught too far off first for the first out of the inning. Keefer walked Michael Martinez and Leonard Davis to load the bases, but was finally able to get out of trouble by getting Joel Guzman to ground into an inning ending double play.

"I made too many mistakes," Keefer admitted. "Things don't go the right way sometimes and you've got to deal with it."

The Baysox added two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to one. Second baseman Miguel Abreu tripled to start the inning against VanAllen. Designated hitter Joe Nowicki reached on a tapper down the third base line, putting runners on first and third with nobody out. Rodriguez grounded out to third to push a run across, as Nowicki moved into scoring position with one out. One batter later, Nowicki would come across on a two-out RBI single by Krynzel to make the score 4-3.

Harrisburg got a big boost from right-hander Zack Segovia, who came on to replace VanAllen in the bottom of the third inning. Segovia tossed 4.0 shutout innings, striking out five and allowing three hits as the Senators clung to a one run advantage.

The Baysox were able to stay in it thanks to Egan, who matched Segovia by tossing 4.0 shutout innings of his own. It was Egan's first appearance with the Baysox since after being recalled from Delmarva on Thursday. The 6-foot-7-inch right-hander showed great poise and command in keeping the Harrisburg hitters off the board. He allowed four hits, two of which were infield singles, while striking out two and not walking a batter. After skipping a level, Egan said you have to be much more careful of how you approach Double-A hitters, because they will be waiting to pound mistakes.

"It's obviously a big jump for anybody," Egan said. "There is no question the hitters are much more patient so you have to be a lot sharper with all of your pitches."

The Baysox finally got it going against right-hander Josh Wilkie, who came on in relief of Segovia in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Robert Valido led off with a shot to deep left field which tipped off the glove of Lowrance for a double. Krynzel followed with a bunt single, putting runners at second and third for Snyder. The Eastern League's leader in RBI came through, grounding out to short to bring the tying run across.

The bullpen would give the lead right back in the top of the eighth, as Castro grounded into an RBI fielders' choice to put the Senators back on top 5-4. They would break it open in the ninth inning, tallying three unearned runs off Baysox closer Josh Perrault to extend the lead to four. Wilkie and left-hander Dave Williams combined to close out the ninth inning as Harrisburg picked up their 13th win of the season.

With the loss the Baysox fall to 23-22 on the season, 8.5 games behind division leading Akron in the Southern Division. The Baysox look to rebound tomorrow as LHP Troy Patton (5-1, 1.62 ERA) takes the mound looking for his team leading sixth win of the season. He will be opposed by LHP Justin Jones (2-6, 5.05) for the Senators. Game time is set for 7:05 at Prince George's Stadium.

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 May 30, 2009


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