The Bowie Baysox defeated the Altoona Curve 5-3 Saturday night in Altoona for their third consecutive victory. Baysox starter Ryohei Tanaka picked up the win, improving to 4-7 on the season and snapping a personal three-game losing streak. Left fielder Tyler Henson went 3-for-5 in and all five of Bowie’s runs were scored by different players. Altoona had not lost back-to-back games at home since May 18-19 against Akron.
The Baysox gave Tanaka a four run lead in the top of the second inning. First Baseman Robbie Widlansky hit a one-out double to right field and scored on a double by catcher Caleb Joseph. Designated hitter Greg Miclat poked a two-out single up the middle to plate Joseph and moved to second base on the throw. Shortstop Carlos Rojas followed with another two-out RBI single up the middle to put the Baysox up by three and center fielder Jonathan Tucker doubled to left field to put runners on second and third. Second baseman Ryan Adams walked to load the bases and Altoona summoned right-hander Dustin Molleken out of the bullpen. Henson welcomed him to the game with an RBI single to left-center field before right fielder Joel Guzman grounded out to end the inning with the Baysox up 4-0.
Erie cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Altoona shortstop Chase d’Arnaud led off the inning with a double to left field and Gorkys Hernandez walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. With Josh Harrison batting, Joseph attempted to pick a runner off, but his throw sailed into the outfield and both runners advanced. Harrison lifted a sacrifice fly to drive in D’Arnaud and Hernandez scored on a single by Matt Hague to cut the Baysox lead to 4-2.
Tanaka was relieved by left-hander Pedro Viola to start the bottom of the sixth inning after holding the Curve to two runs on seven hits and three walks. It was the fourth consecutive start where Tanaka failed to go more than five innings and he allowed at least seven hits in each of those outings.
After a scoreless sixth inning Viola ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh, allowing a leadoff single to Harrison and a walk to Hague to put two runners on base with nobody out. Jordy Mercer advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Viola recorded a line out before being relieved by right-hander Jim Hoey with runners on second and third with two outs. Hoey walked Shelby Ford to load the bases but escaped unscathed after Miles Durham flied out to end the inning.
The Baysox added another run in the top of the eighth inning. Third baseman Brandon Waring hit a one-out triple to left field and scored on a wild pitch to put the Baysox up 5-2. It was the seventh triple of his career and the first since May 31, 2009, as a member of the Frederick Keys.
Altoona answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Hoey walked Anthony Norman to open the inning and surrendered a ground rule double to right field by d’Arnaud to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Hoey recorded a strikeout and a pop out before throwing a wild pitch, allowing Norman to score to cut the lead to 5-3.
Right-hander Pedro Beato pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his team-leading sixth save.
Guzman failed to record a hit in the contest, snapping a 10-game hitting streak. Adams went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games and Widlansky went 2-for-4 with two doubles to extend his hitting streak to four games.
With the win, the Baysox improve to 39-35 and remain in second place in the Western Division, 9.0 games behind Altoona. The teams close out the series in Altoona Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. The Baysox return home Monday, June 28, for a eight-game home stand over seven games against the Erie SeaWolves and Akron Aeros.
The Erie series includes a doubleheader on Monday night at 5:35 p.m. and Daddy/Daughter Date Night on Wednesday, June 30. Fathers and their daughters can purchase two lower reserved seat tickets and two hot dogs for $20, with additional tickets available for $10 each.
The Aeros roll in to town during the Baysox All-American Weekend, featuring fireworks shows on July 2, 3 and 4. Saturday, July 3, is Stress Less Saturday, with a chance to win a family vacation courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Sunday, July 4, is the Baysox Independence Day Celebration, with a spectacular extended fireworks show and an auction of special stars-and-stripes Baysox jerseys that will benefit AMVETS.
