March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 48 F

Akron Walks Over Baysox

The Bowie Baysox fell to the Akron Aeros 9-3 Sunday afternoon at Prince George’s Stadium.  The loss, Bowie’s second straight, drops the Baysox to 12-6, though they hang on to the top spot in the Eastern League’s Western Division by half a game.

Starting pitcher Chorye Spoone struggled in his third start of the year, walking six batters and giving up 10 hits as the Aeros rung up seven runs in his four and one- third inning performance.  Akron attacked him early with a two-run double by designated hitter Beau Mills in the first inning.  Mills advanced to third when Spoone loaded the bases with two walks in a row and scored off shortstop Josh Rodriguez’s infield single to put the Aeros up 3-0.

“He really struggled with any sort of command,” said Pitching Coach Kennie Steenstra.  “Six walks, that’s not the way he needs to be.  Really, he had a lot of trouble repeating anything; it looked like he couldn’t throw the same pitch twice in a row and really struggled finding that release point the whole time out there.”

“It’s never easy when you give up four runs, or three runs, or two runs, even a run,” said catcher Phil Britton.  “It’s tough to go out and get a shutdown because you’re thinking, ‘Shoot, I gave up two runs right there.’  You know, that’s not a very good start but the season’s young and he’s the kind of pitcher that I think he’ll make the adjustment to think ‘Hey, that’s all they’re getting, gotta get out after the next inning and start getting shutdowns.’”

Steenstra stressed the importance of keeping in mind the shoulder surgery that Spoone, a Pasadena, Md. native, has been recovering from for a year and a half when evaluating his performances.

“The big thing with Chorye right now is just getting him out there every five days and getting the arm strength back and see where we’re at about halfway through the season,” he said.  “The velocity has been pretty good and he’s starting to get better action on his pitches, it’s just a matter of finding that consistency with his location and being able to repeat things, which he’s really struggling with right now.”

Third baseman Brandon Waring was the offensive star for the Baysox, as he put the Baysox on the board in the bottom of the first with a double that plated center fielder Danny Figueroa.

“I saw some pitches up in the zone and put some good swings on it, I didn’t miss my pitch today,” Waring said.  “That’s been the difference here lately, I’m not missing my pitch — if I’m getting something to hit, I’m driving it.”

The Aeros expanded their lead with a run in the top of the second inning with a sacrifice fly by Matt McBride and another run in the third inning on an RBI single by outfielder Nick Weglarz, but Waring kept his side in the game with a two-run blast to left field in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-3 after three innings.  It was the seventh consecutive game in which the Baysox have hit a home run.

“I was working with Moe one day, and he was trying to get me to relax a little bit more, not try too hard,” said Waring.  With five round-trippers to his name, Waring is now tied for the Baysox Eastern League lead in home runs along with teammate Joel Guzman.  “I think I was putting a bit of pressure on myself when I was struggling a little bit but I’m feeling a little better, and Joel’s swinging it good behind me, so it’s always good to have somebody swinging good behind you.”

Waring finished the game 3-for-5 with the home run and two doubles, but the three runs he drove in were all the scoring the Baysox could muster.  Akron piled on with two more runs off Spoone in the fifth inning, including a solo-shot home run by Rodriguez, and hung another two-spot on Baysox reliever Chad Thall in the ninth inning to split the four-game series.

The Baysox look to get back to their winning ways and will continue fighting for their claim to the top spot in the Eastern League Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. as they open a three-game set against the Erie SeaWolves with right-handed pitcher Ryohei Tanaka (2-0, 2.08 ERA) taking the mound for Bowie.  As with all Tuesday games this year, it will be a Belly Buster Bargain Night.  Any fan who purchases a regularly priced lower reserved seat ticket ($14) receives a voucher for a free foot long hot dog, bag of peanuts and small popcorn.

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