The New Britain Rock Cats used a big sixth inning to take the lead and held off a late Bowie rally to beat the Baysox 6-5 on the road Tuesday night. With the loss, the Baysox fall to 36-34 on the season.
The Baysox out-hit the Rock Cats 13-9, but could not keep up on the scoreboard. One game after tying their season-high with 14 hits, the Baysox bats were still awake, but came through with fewer clutch hits. The Baysox were just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. It was the ninth time the Baysox have lost when out-hitting their opponent.
Left fielder LJ Hoes recorded the first five-hit game of the season for the Baysox. The outfielder, who is playing in his 25th game with the Baysox, went 5-for-5 with one run scored. After the five-hit game, Hoes is batting .281.
The Baysox got off to a good start with one run in the top of the first inning against New Britain starter Liam Hendriks. Center fielder Xavier Avery hit a lead off single to center field and went to second when left fielder LJ Hoes hit a one out single to right field. First baseman Joe Mahoney grounded into a force out that eliminated Hoes at second, but moved Avery to third where he scored when catcher Caleb Joseph reached on a throwing error by shortstop Brian Dozier. On the play, Joseph was thrown out trying to reach second after the throwing error, but not before the Baysox had taken a 1-0 lead.
The Rock Cats tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning against left-handed starting pitcher Rick Zagone. Dozier hit a lead off single to center field and Nathan Hanson followed with a double to center field that advanced Dozier to third. Chris Parmelee grounded out, but plated Dozier to tie the game 1-1.
Bowie took the lead right back in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, second baseman Buck Britton doubled to right field and moved to third when Hoes singled to left field. Mahoney plated Britton with a sacrifice fly to left field that put the Baysox up 2-1.
New Britain scored for the second consecutive inning to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Mark Dolenc singled to left field and after Deibinson Romero drew a walk, Dolenc went to third when Jair Fernandez flied out to right field. Daniel Rohlfing moved Dolenc home when he singled to third base to tie the game 2-2.
The Rock Cats took their first lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Parmelee drew a lead off walk and with one out, Yangervis Solarte moved Parmelee to third with a double to left field. Mark Dolenc reached on a fielder’s choice after hitting the ball back to Zagone, who caught Parmelee in a run-down where he was eventually out at home. Runners advanced to second base and third base on the play before Romero homered to left field to put New Britain up 5-2.
New Britain scored for the fourth consecutive inning with one more run in the bottom of the seventh. Dozier hit a one out single to shortstop and scored when Parmelee hit a two out single to center field to put the Rock Cats up 6-2. Right-handed reliever Wynn Pelzer replaced Zagone to finish the inning.
The Baysox battled back with two runs in the top of the eighth against Rock Cats reliever Tony Davis. Britton drew a lead off walk and moved to third when Hoes singled to right field. Mahoney doubled to right field to plate Britton and move Hoes to third before Deolis Guerra replaced Davis on the mound. Joseph then drew a walk and designated hitter Robbie Widlansky scored Hoes with a sacrifice fly to left field that brought the Baysox to within two runs at 6-4.
Bowie threatened to make a come back in the top of the ninth inning, but their effort fell just short. Facing New Britain closer Tyler Robertson, Avery singled to center field with one out. Brandon Waring, who was pinch-hitting for Britton, flied out to center field, but then Hoes singled to center field and moved Avery to second base. Mahoney followed with a single to right field that plated Avery and moved Hoes to second, but Joseph flied out to end the game with the Baysox falling just short.
Zagone pitched six and two-thirds innings and allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out two as he was credited with his sixth loss of the season. Pelzer pitched one and one-third scoreless innings in relief of Zagone and allowed just one hit while striking out three.
With his single in the top of the third inning, Joseph extended his hitting streak to 10 games, making him just the second Baysox player to put together a double-digit hitting streak this season. Joseph is just one game shy of tying Widlansky’s season-high 11-game hit streak.
Playing in just his sixth game after spending more than a month on the Disabled List, Mahoney drove in three runs and recorded his first multi-RBI game of the season. In 52 games with the Baysox in 2010, Mahoney drove in 29 runs.
Wednesday, RHP Zach Clark (5-5, 4.66) takes the mound for the Baysox as they take on the New Britain Rock Cats. His opponent will be RHP Bobby Lanigan (5-5, 3.77).
The Baysox are on the road for a six game road trip. They return home Friday, June 24, for a three game home stand against the Binghamton Mets. The home stand features Louie’s Birthday Bash, Scout Night Camp Out, and postgame fireworks Friday night, Star Wars Saturday with postgame fireworks Saturday night, and the Baysox post-Fathers Day Celebration with pregame catch on the field and a meet the team autograph session before Sunday afternoon’s game.
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.
