EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Valido Cleans Up As Baysox Sweep

Published on June 18, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - After seven and a half innings of shutout baseball, Baysox shortstop Robert Valido took out his broom and swept the Phillies back to Reading with a two-run home run. Valido's blast came with one out in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Baysox a 2-0 win and their fourth straight victory.

Tim Bascom tossed 7.0 shutout innings in his second start for the Baysox. The right-hander allowed three hits and walked two while striking out seven. After collecting a 3.40 ERA in 12 appearances at Frederick, he has allowed one earned run through 14.0 innings in his first two starts at Bowie. His outing comes the night after former Keys teammate Brian Matusz shut down Reading in his first start yesterday, leading to a friendly competition between the two.

"You always try to one-up the first guy every time," Bascom said. "His start gives you more motivation to go out and do the same thing."

Phillies starter Tyson Brummett matched Bascom pitch for pitch, tossing 7.0 shutout innings allowing four hits while walking two and striking out five. The Baysox had runners on in every inning but the fifth, but were unable to capitalize and push a run across.

Reading did not advance a runner past first base until the fifth inning against Bascom, when Ozzie Chavez singled and stole second to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Brad Harman followed with a one-hopper back to the mound, Bascom fielded it cleanly and Chavez was erased in a run down between second and third. The Phillies would put a runner on second with one out in each of the next two innings, but the right-hander remained calm and stayed out of trouble before departing after the seventh inning. Although neither starter factored in the decision, Bascom said the pitchers duel allowed him to take his game to the next level.

"It makes it easy to get your rhythm going and trying to go out there and do the same thing (Brummett) is doing," Bascom said. "I told myself I was going to throw more strikes and fill up the zone and it's been helping me out a lot."

The Baysox offense finally came through in the eighth, as Phillies right-hander Alex Concepcion came out of the bullpen to relieve Brummett. Catcher Guillermo Rodriguez started the inning with a single to left. Left fielder Jonathan Tucker followed with a sacrifice bunt, moving pinch runner Danny Figueroa into scoring position and setting the table for Valido. After getting ahead in the count 2-0, Valido sat on a changeup from Concepcion and got his pitch, driving it off the scoreboard in left to put the Baysox out in front 2-0. Valido crossed home plate and pointed to the bleachers behind home plate, where his father and little sister were in town to watch him bring home a victory for the Baysox.

"It was wonderful just to get a win," Valido said. "It feels good, it's a big win and hopefully we'll continue to roll."

Ryan Ouellette earned his third win of the season, working a perfect eighth inning while striking out one. The right-hander has been a stalwart in the Baysox bullpen since being called up from Frederick on May 14, posting an ERA of 0.95 in 13 appearances and holding hitters to a .185 average.

"I'm keeping the ball down just trying to throw as many strikes as I can," Ouellette said of his success so far this season. "Tonight I was comfortable and tried to get ahead of guys and was able to get outs."

Right-hander Josh Perrault struck out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save. His 11 saves this season ties him with Binghamton's Roy Merrit for third best in the Eastern League. It was the 17th straight game for Perrault in which he has not allowed an earned run, a season-high for Baysox pitchers this season.

The Baysox improve to 35-30 on the season, 9.0 games back of Southern Division leader Akron. Friday, the New Britain Rock Cats come to town to begin a three-game set at Prince George's Stadium. LHP Bobby Livingston (5-1, 4.09) takes the mound for the Baysox against Rock Cats RHP Jeff Manship (5-4, 4.70). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

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 18, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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