March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 47 F

Baysox open season with a 5-2 loss to the Rubber Ducks

Baysox2016The Baysox opened the 2016 season with a celebration of the club’s first ever Championship in 2015. The enjoyment was short-lived as the Baysox 2016 squad followed with a 5-2 loss to Akron Thursday night. The loss drops the Baysox to 12-12 all-time in Opening Day games. 

Baltimore Orioles LHP Brian Matusz pitched one inning for the Baysox Thursday night on a Major League Rehab Assignment. He struck out two batters but also walked one and surrendered a home run during his outing.

Akron scored the first runs of the season against Baysox starter Joe Gunkel in the top of the third inning. Eric Stamets hit a leadoff single to left field and moved to second base on a throwing error by Gunkel. Bradley Zimmer then brought him home with a double to left field before later scoring on a Nellie Rodriguez single to right field to give the RubberDucks a 2-0 lead. 

The RubberDucks tacked on another run in the top of the sixth inning against Matusz on a Bryson Myles solo homer to left field that made the score 3-0. 

The Baysox got their first hits and their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning against Akron starter Adam Plutko. Adrian Marin hit a leadoff bloop single over the head of the first baseman and Julio Borbon followed with a single to right field. Both runners advanced on a passed ball by Akron catcher Jeremy Lucas and Trey Mancini then brought Marin home on a groundout to make the score 3-1. 

Akron got a run right back in the top of the seventh inning against Baysox reliever Paul Demny. Stamets was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on a Zimmer single to center field to make the score 4-1.

The RubberDucks were aided by a pair of errors in the top of the ninth inning to take a 5-1 lead. Facing reliever Bobby Bundy, Stamets reached on a fielding error by Garabez Rosa and moved to third base on a second error by Rosa. Yandy Diaz then brought Stamets home on a groundout to add to Akron’s lead.

Mancini gave the Baysox another run in the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo home run against reliever Ben Heller to make the score 5-2.

Gunkel threw five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out five in the loss. Matusz allowed one run during the sixth inning and Demny also surrendered a run over one relief inning. Reliever Jon Keller pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Baysox, walking two batters. Bundy, who was pitching in his first game since May 2015, threw one inning and allowed just one unearned run. 

Plutko earned the win for Akron, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out eight and walking two batters. 

The Baysox take on Akron in the second game of a four game series Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP David Hess will take the mound for the Baysox against LHP Shawn Morimando. 

Bowie is home through Wednesday, April 13 for a seven-game homestand against the Akron RubberDucks and Erie SeaWolves. Promotional highlights include fireworks on Saturday night after the 6:35 p.m. game and Mutt Monday, April 11 at 6:35 p.m.

The 2016 Bowie Baysox season is presented by Money One Federal Credit Union. The Baysox are the 2015 Eastern League Champions! Bowie opens its 24th season as the Class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles at home Thursday, April 7 against the Akron RubberDucks at 6:35 p.m. Single game tickets are now on sale at www.baysox.com.

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