March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 48 F

Florimon’s Foursome Falls To Phillies

The Baysox out-hit the Reading Phillies 10-8 at home Wednesday night, but were unable to keep up on the scoreboard as they lost 5-3. The loss drops the Baysox to 33-32 on the season.

Shortstop Pedro Florimon recorded his first four-hit game of the season in Wednesday’s loss though he was never able to come around to score. It was the Baysox first four-hit game since Xavier Avery recorded four hits June 4.

Bowie never struggled to put runners on base, but struggled to drive them in as they hit 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. In both the seventh and eighth innings, the Baysox were able to load the bases, but came away with just one run.

“Offensively, double-digit hits and you think you’re going to get that big one, that key one,” said Manager Gary Kendall. “Bases loaded, one out in the seventh and we can’t get anything. You take a run off the board for them, we play a little better defensively, play the game a little bit tighter and if we make contact and drive in a run it’s a whole different ball game. We just didn’t get it done – we had plenty of opportunities.”

The Phillies jumped out to an early lead in the second inning against left-handed starting pitcher Rick Zagone.  Carlos Rivero led off the inning with a single through the hole at shortstop and then advanced to third base on back-to-back groundouts.  Former Baysox infielder Paco Figueroa then hit a grounder to third that Carlos Rojas fielded and threw to first, but Joe Mahoney dropped the ball.  On the play, Rivero scored from third to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. 

In the third inning the Baysox tied the game against Reading starter Tyson Brummett. Second baseman Greg Miclat drew a lead off walk but right fielder LJ Hoes grounded into a force out that eliminated Miclat at second. Hoes advanced to second when catcher Caleb Joseph grounded out and scored as designated hitter Brandon Waring continued his recent hot streak with an RBI single to left-center field that tied the game at 1-1.

The Phillies re-took the lead in the fifth inning.  With one out, Figueroa tripled to center field, but was thrown out at the plate by Miclat on a ground out by Tuffy Gosewisch.  The Phillies then scored the go-ahead run without recording a hit.  Zagone hit Freddy Galvis and walked Michael Spidale and Matt Rizzotti to force in Gosewisch to make the score 2-1.

Reading added two more runs in the sixth inning.  Rivero doubled to left field to lead off the inning and was moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Derrick Mitchell.  After Terry Evans popped out, Figueroa hit an RBI double to right field that scored Rivero and gave Reading a two run lead.  Zagone was taken out of the ball game and right-handed reliever Tim Bascom allowed Gosewisch to hit an RBI single to center field that made the score 4-1.

Baysox got one run back in the eighth inning against Phillippe Aumont.  With two outs, the Baysox loaded the bases on a walk by center fielder Ronnie Welty, a single to left field by Florimon and when pinch-hitter Steve Lerud was hit by a pitch. Miclat then hit a ground ball back to Aumont that he booted, allowing Welty to score to make the score 4-2.

“I was just trying to be aggressive if the pitch was in the zone,” Miclat said. “I fell behind, fouled two balls off, got a 1-2 curveball – that’s his out pitch – and it was a pretty good curveball and I just did the best I could with it. I put it in play and luckily he made an error. If you put it in play, you give yourself a chance.”

In the top of the ninth inning, the Phillies got the run back against right-handed reliever Raul Rivero.  With one out, Spidale singled to center field and went to second on a wild pitch. Rizzotti struck out, but Spidale stole third base and then scored on another wild pitch with Cody Overbeck batting to extend the lead back to three runs at 5-2.
The Baysox threatened again in the bottom of the ninth inning against Phillies closer Justin De Fratus.  Joseph led off with a double to left field and with one out, Mahoney singled through the hole at shortstop to put runners on the corners.  Left fielder Robbie Widlansky brought the Baysox within two runs with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Joseph before De Fratus struck out Welty for the final out of the game.

Zagone pitched five and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking three in the loss. Bascom pitched one and one-third scoreless innings in relief of Zagone and allowed two hits while striking out two. Rivero finished off the game with two innings where he allowed one run on one hit and struck out two.

“I felt good,” Zagone said. “Third, fourth inning I lost control a little bit and had some walks, but I was able to find it again after that. I gave up a few hits with runners on, but I thought I threw the ball pretty well – hit my spots when I needed to. I just gave up a couple timely base hits.”

The defense struggled for the Baysox Wednesday night, committing two errors and misplaying several other balls that contributed to Reading runs.

“We didn’t play good defensively behind Zagone,” Kendall said. “The sun got in Mahoney’s eyes, that happens and that led to a run, but I thought we misplayed two balls in the outfield that I thought should have been handled, which didn’t help.”

Batting lead-off, Miclat had a productive game. Miclat got on base four times though he didn’t record a hit and stole two bases, tying him for the team lead with 20 this season. Miclat walked twice and reached on two errors and Hoes got on base twice scoring a run and kick-starting the top of the Baysox batting order.

“That’s your job as the lead off guy – try to get on base any way possible,” Miclat said. “I didn’t get a hit, but I put the ball in play and there were two errors made so any way you can put the ball in play and get on base helps make good things happen.”

 

Thursday, RHP Chorye Spoone (2-4, 4.53) takes the mound for the Baysox as they wrap-up a home series with the Reading Phillies. His opponent will be RHP B.J. Rosenberg (2-1, 2.17).

The Baysox are home through Thursday, June 16, which is Legends of Wrestling Night with a special appearance by Jerry “The King” Lawler. The team then goes on a six-game road trip before returning home Friday, June 24. For more information on Baysox promotions and theme nights, visit www.baysox.com.

Baysox Baseball – We’ll Knock Your ‘Sox Off. The Baysox 19th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is underway. Parking is free at every Baysox home game and tickets are now available at www.baysox.com.

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