EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Super Baysox Slam Erie

Published on June 6, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Baysox broke out of their offensive slump with 15 hits as they defeated Erie 10-6 Saturday night at Prince George's Stadium. Catcher Guillermo Rodriguez played the role of Superman on Superhero Night for the Baysox, collecting two doubles and a home run while crossing the plate three times. With the win, the Baysox snapped a four-game losing skid and improve to 27-27 on the season.

After being shutout in their previous three games, the Baysox got on the board in the first inning off Erie starter Pat Stanley. Shortstop Robert Valido doubled with one out, advancing to third on a single by first baseman Brandon Snyder. With third baseman Michael Costanzo at the plate, Stanley uncorked a wild pitch allowing Valido to cross the plate with the Baysox first run in 27 innings of play.

The Baysox would add another run in the third thanks to the hustle of their veteran catcher. Rodriguez led off the inning with fly ball into the gap in left-center field. Not known for his speed, the Baysox backstop turned on the jets and slid around the tag of the second baseman for a leadoff double. He would advance to third on a single by left fielder Jonathan Tucker, before scoring on another wild pitch by Stanley. A 13-year veteran, Rodriguez took it upon himself to lead by example and give effort on every play, something he feels the team has to do to get back to being successful.

"We came out today and played the game the right way," Rodriguez said. "If we come out and play the way we did today we're going to be in pretty good shape."

After tallying a single run in the fourth on an RBI single by left fielder Joe Nowicki, the Baysox broke it open with a five run fifth inning. Rodriguez took the lead again, crushing a Herculean blast over the left field wall for his third home run of the season to lead off the inning. Tucker followed with a ground ball in the hole at shortstop, beating the throw to first and hustling into an uncovered second base for an infield double. The speedy Tucker advanced to third on Stanley's third wild pitch of the night, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Snyder to make the score 5-0.

"That play kind of characterizes my game in a nutshell," Tucker said of his hustle double. "That is stuff that I have to do to help the team get going."

Costanzo followed with a home run deep over the center field wall, his second of the season. Second baseman Miguel Abreu took the next pitch from Stanley and deposited it over the wall in left field as the Baysox tallied back-to-back home runs for the first time this season. Right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion continued the barrage by grounding a ball to third that Michael Hollimon mishandled to give the Baysox another base runner. Later in the inning, Nowicki collected his second RBI single of the night as the Baysox extended their lead to eight.

John Mariotti stayed in control of the Erie offense all night, boring his sinker down in the zone and inducing 13 ground ball outs in 7.0 innings of work. After setting the Baysox season high with five walks in his last outing, the right-hander did not allow a free pass to Erie hitters on the night. The right-hander has steadily improved since being called up from Frederick on May 7, culminating with his first win in front of 7,785 fans at Prince George's Stadium Saturday night.

"I felt really good tonight and got into a groove," Mariotti said. "I felt kind of sluggish early but got my legs underneath me and pounded the strike zone."

Erie got back into the game in the eighth inning off Baysox left-hander Ryan Rodriguez, who came on in relief of Mariotti. The Baysox southpaw allowed four hits to start the inning, plating one run and leaving the bases loaded with nobody out. After getting Avila looking for the first out of the inning, Rodriguez walked Maxwell Leon to bring in another run. Deik Scram grounded out to bring home the third run of the inning as Erie cut the lead to six heading into the ninth.

Right-hander Ryan Keefer came on in the ninth and struggled to find the plate. Scott Sizemore walked to start the inning, advancing to second on a single by Brennan Boesch. Keefer walked Joe Tucker on four pitches to load the bases and forced a run in with a four-pitch walk to Hollimon. Keefer hit Avila to cut the lead to 10-6 and manager Brad Komminsk went to closer Josh Perrault. The right-hander the final two batters to earn his seventh save of the season, tying him with left-hander Wilfrido Perez for the team lead.

The two teams close out the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 2:05 p.m. RHP Jake Arrieta (5-3, 2.94) will take the mound for the Baysox in game one against Erie LHP Jon Kibler (1-0, 5.93). Game two features Baysox RHP Pat Egan (0-0, 1.13) against LHP Ramon Garcia (1-0 5.65) for the SeaWolves. Baysox players will be sporting pink jerseys that will be auctioned off during the first game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.

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 June 6, 2009


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