EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Squirrels Squeak Past Baysox

Published on July 22, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie Baysox fell to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 3-2 as Richmond starter Clayton Tanner outdueled Baysox hurler Rick Zagone in a southpaw showdown. The loss was just the Baysox fourth in their last 16 home games. First baseman Joe Mahoney led the way for the Baysox on a mediocre offensive night, going 3-for-4 and accounting for nearly half of Bowie's seven hits in the game.

Zagone was a hard-luck loser, as he gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits through 6.0 innings. He fell to 1-2 on the season though his ERA dropped to 3.55 through five Double-A starts.

The unearned run charged to Zagone in the top of the first inning ended up costing the Baysox dearly. Nick Noonan opened the game with a high fly ball to left-center field on a 1-1 pitch. Center fielder Danny Figueroa and left fielder Tyler Henson both ranged towards the ball and Henson called off Figueroa as it started to drop, but he was charged with an error as the ball fell beside him and Noonan ran to second base. Noonan moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Ryan Lormand, and scored on Thomas Neal's ground out to shortstop.

Tanner held the Baysox to two hits through the first four innings, but they broke through to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Figueroa hit a one-out single into left field, just past the outstretched glove of Lormand. With second baseman Carlos Rojas batting, Figueroa stole second base and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Rojas struck out, shortstop Greg Miclat plated Figueroa with a single to center field that evened the score at 1-1.

The Squirrels pulled ahead in the top of the sixth inning, as Zagone walked Neal and first baseman Brandon Belt with two outs in successive at-bats. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie singled to right field to bring Neal home and open a 2-1 lead.

Richmond further pushed their advantage in the seventh inning, with another two-out rally against Baysox reliever Raul Rivero. Outfielder Skyler Stromsmoe hit a chopper to Mahoney and reached first safely, as Rivero arrived too late to cover first base as Mahoney flipped the ball over. Noonan struck again with a hard line drive that fell just inside the first base line and bounced into the corner as he raced around the bases for a standing triple that plated Stromsmoe for a 3-1 lead.

Bowie was able to clip a run off the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Designated hitter Ryan Adams walked with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball as Henson struck out. Right fielder Joel Guzman laced a single down the right field line for his team-leading 64th RBI of the year, scoring Adams to cut the deficit to one run.

Lefty Chad Thall took the mound in the ninth for the Baysox and held the Squirrels in place, stranding runners on the corners as he caught Noonan swinging for his second strikeout of the inning.

Unfortunately, the winning rally never came for the Baysox. Catcher Caleb Joseph, Figueroa and Rojas were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth inning and the home side lost 3-2.

Despite the loss, the Eastern League Western Division standings remain largely unchanged as all of the Baysox other divisional rivals lost to Eastern Division teams. Bowie hangs on to second place by half a game over Akron, and trails the Altoona Curve by 5.0 games.

The Squirrels are in town for three more games, and the Baysox will have another crack at their southern rivals Friday at 7:05 p.m.

It is sure to be another exciting weekend at home for Baysox fans, with spectacular fireworks shows following Friday and Saturday's games. Saturday is Star Wars Night, one of the most eagerly anticipated events at Prince George's Stadium, with lightsaber battles between innings by reenactors in movie-quality replica Star Wars costumes. Sunday is Football Funday Sunday, as the Baysox get geared up for the upcoming football season with former NFL players on-hand for a meet-and-greet and autographs.

Think Outside The Box with the Baysox in 2010. The Baysox 18th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway. Catch all the action in Natural Definition! Baysox full-season and partial-season ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the group sales department at (301) 464-4880.

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Eastern League Stories from July 22, 2010


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