The Baysox got off to a slow start after having their past two games cancelled due to rain as they fell behind early and lost 5-3 to the Binghamton Mets at home Friday night. With the loss, the Baysox fall to 36-35 on the season.
The Baysox offense struggled to string hits together early against Mets starter Tobi Stoner and recorded six hits in the first seven innings before rallying for three runs in final two innings against the Binghamton bullpen.
“We just didn’t do enough early,” said Manager Gary Kendall. “We had opportunities; coming down to the last two innings, trying to make up five runs is tough. Even though in the ninth inning it looked good for us with bases loaded and two outs, it shouldn’t come down to that. We had opportunities early in the game with runners on base and we couldn’t put hits together.”
Mets third baseman Josh Satin hit for the cycle in the game. It was the first time a Baysox opponent had hit for the cycle since Jose Vidro achieved the feat in Harrisburg July 20, 1996. Satin homered in his first at bat, hit an infield single in his second, doubled in his third and managed a triple to left field to finish the cycle.
The Mets got the scoring started in the top of the first inning against right-handed pitcher Zach Clark. With two outs and no one on base, Josh Satin hit his ninth home run of the season to left field to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Binghamton added to their lead in the second inning. Allen Dykstra led off with a walk and then Salomon Manriquez doubled to center field to put runners at second and third. After Raul Reyes flied out to left field, Eric Campbell knocked in the second run of the game with a groundout to short that made it a 2-0 game.
In the third inning, the Mets tacked on another run. Matt Den Dekker led off with an infield single to shortstop and then Satin hit another infield single to shortstop to put runners at first and second. With two outs in the inning, Dykstra hit an RBI single to right-center field that extended the lead to 3-0.
The Mets got two more runs in the seventh inning against left-handed reliever Pedro Viola. Jordany Valdespin led off the inning with a single through the hole at shortstop and Satin hit a triple to left field that scored Valdespin. Maldonado then knocked in Satin with a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 5-0.
The Baysox got on the board in the eighth inning against Mets reliever Erik Turgeon. Center fielder Xavier Avery led off with a single to center field and moved to third when Greg Miclat followed with a single to right field. Miclat took a big turn around first base on his single and was tagged out by first baseman Eric Campbell and then ejected from the game for arguing the call. Left fielder LJ Hoes followed with a walk and then first baseman Joe Mahoney knocked in the Baysox first run with a single to left field. The Baysox then loaded the bases when catcher Caleb Joseph singled to right field and designated hitter Robbie Widlansky drove in Hoes when he grounded out to second to cut the lead to 5-2.
In the ninth inning, the Baysox threatened again against Mets reliever Rhiner Cruz. Cruz walked the first three batters of the inning to load the bases. After a strikeout by Hoes, Mahoney grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored pinch-hitter Buck Britton and made it a 5-3 game. Cruz then struck out Joseph for the final out of the game.
Clark pitched six innings and allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out seven in a loss. The seven strikeouts tied a season-high for Clark, but the loss was his fourth in a row.
“I could’ve made a better pitch on the home run and the third run, I had two strikes on the guy and I went in and I made a good pitch – he didn’t really do much with it – but he got it out of the infield,” Clark said. “I felt a lot better today than I have recently – I made a couple adjustments and I got more comfortable as the game went on.”
Viola pitched one inning in relief of Clark and allowed two earned runs on two hits. Left-handed reliever Nick Bierbrodt pitched a scoreless eighth inning and right-handed reliever Armando Gabino finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning.
With a single in the bottom of the eighth inning, Joseph extended his hitting streak to 11 games, tying the team’s season-high. During that span, he has hit two home runs and driven in seven runs.
After spending the majority of the first half of the season on the Disabled List, Mahoney is back in the Baysox line-up and making an impact. Mahoney drove in two runs in Friday’s loss and has recorded five RBIs in his last two games.
After two consecutive rainouts, the Baysox found themselves shaking off the rust as they took the field. Days off are few and far between in the middle of the regular season and several days without seeing live pitching affected batters’ timing at the plate.
“When you haven’t seen live pitching in three days, your timing is a hair off,” Joseph said.” Me and a bunch of guys were just outside of the ball or just inside of the ball and at this level it’s all about your timing. We’ll be ready tomorrow – it’s just one of those things where it’s tough not playing for three days and then trying to turn it on.”
Saturday, RHP Chorye Spoone (1-4, 5.40) takes the mound for the Baysox as they play the second game in a three-game home stand against the Binghamton Mets.
The Baysox are home through Sunday, June 26 for a three game home stand against the Binghamton Mets. The home stand features 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.
