The Baysox blew a four run lead in the ninth inning, but scored in the 13th inning to beat Altoona 12-10 on the road for their fourth straight win. With the win, the Baysox move to a season-high four games above .500 at 45-41.
Left fielder LJ Hoes hit a three-RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to give the Baysox the lead after they entered the inning trailing by two runs, but it was not enough as the Curve responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 10-10.
The Baysox tied their season-high for hits in a game with 19 as they needed 13 innings to break the tie with two runs in the top of the 13th inning to win a game that included three different ties and three different lead changes. The game marked the second time in less than a week where the Baysox played in a game where both teams scored 10 or more runs.
The Curve took an early lead against right-handed starting pitcher Zach Clark when Quincy Latimore led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to left field.
In the second inning, the Curve added to the lead. They loaded the bases with no one out on an infield single by Tony Sanchez, a walk to Matt Curry and after Kris Watts was hit by a pitch. Brad Chalk then knocked in the first run of the game with a single to the right side. The Curve added another run in the inning on an RBI ground out by Latimore to make the score 3-0.
The Baysox wasted no time answering back against Altoona starter Jeff Locke. Right fielder Ronnie Welty singled to center field to lead off the top of the third inning and then scored on a double to center field by designated hitter Adam Donachie. Two batters later, second baseman Greg Miclat tied the game with a two-run home run to left field, his second of the season to make the score 3-3.
In the fourth inning, the Baysox took their first lead of the game. With one out, catcher Caleb Joseph doubled to left field and then went to third on a wild pitch. Shortstop Pedro Florimon then gave the Baysox the lead with an RBI groundout to the shortstop that allowed Joseph to score and give the Baysox a 4-3 lead.
The Curve took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning. For the second time in the game they loaded the bases with no one out in the inning before right-handed reliever Armando Gabino replaced Clark on the mound. Matt Curry knocked in two runs on a double to right field to give the Curve the lead. With one out in the inning and runners at second and third, Chalk grounded out to the pitcher, but on the play another run scored to give the Curve a 6-4 lead.
The Baysox came storming back in the top of the ninth inning against Altoona reliever Noah Krol. Pinch-hitter Robbie Widlansky hit for Donachie and singled to second base. Center fielder Xavier Avery then drew a walk and Miclat singled to load the bases before Michael Dubee replaced Krol on the mound. Hoes doubled to left field to clear the bases and put the Baysox up by one run. Kyle Hudson replaced Hoes as a pinch-runner and moved to third when first baseman Joe Mahoney grounded out. Buck Britton then pinch-hit for third baseman Brandon Waring and singled to right field to score Hudson before moving to third when Joseph singled to right field. Florimon followed with a sacrifice fly, but a fielding error by left fielder Brad Chalk allowed Britton to score while Joseph moved to second. Welty then singled to right field to plate Joseph and give the Baysox a commanding 10-6 lead.
Altoona came roaring back in the bottom of the ninth inning against right-handed reliever Brandon Cooney. Greg Picart hit a lead off single to right field and Latimore followed with his second home run of the game to center field to bring the Curve to within two. Brock Holt then singled to center field and with one out, Andrew Lambo walked before right-handed reliever Pat Egan replaced Cooney on the mound. Sanchez then reached on a fielding error by Britton at third to load the bases before Curry walked to drive in a run and bring Altoona within one. Egan struck out Watts, but walked Chalk to allow the tying run to score, making the game 10-10 before finally getting out of the inning.
After three scoreless extra frames, the Baysox broke the tie in the top of the 13th inning. Facing Altoona pitcher Tim Alderson, Mahoney hit a one out double to center field and scored when Britton followed with another double to center field. Joseph flied out to move Britton to third where he scored on a single to left field by Florimon that made the score 12-10.
Clark pitched five innings and allowed six runs on seven hits though he did not factor into the decision. Gabino pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Clark and allowed one hit while striking out two. Cooney struggled in the ninth inning as he pitched one-third of an inning and allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits. Egan replaced Cooney in the ninth and pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, though he walked in two runs credited to Cooney in the ninth. Right-handed reliever Raul Rivero finished the game for the Baysox with three scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season.
Joseph and Mahoney both recorded seven at bats in the game, which is second only to the franchise-record eight at bats recorded by Avery and Miclat in an 18-inning marathon game against Richmond April 30. Joseph recorded his first four hit game of the season and scored two runs.
In addition to Hoes, Florimon also recorded three RBIs in the game. They were his first RBIs since he recorded five in a game June 30. Four Baysox players recorded multiple RBIs in the game.
Bowie’s hitters were also masters of the extra-base hit Saturday night as they recorded six doubles in the game, falling just one short of their season-high seven. Offensive substitutions for the Baysox were also effective as pinch-hitters were 2-for-2 and Hudson scored a run as a pinch-runner.
The Baysox and Curve will go at it again tomorrow in game three of the series with a scheduled first pitch of 6:00 p.m. Chorye Spoone (2-5, 4.96) will be on the mound for the Baysox going up against the Curve’s Aaron Pribanic (5-7, 4.11).
The Baysox began a four-game road trip to Altoona, Pa., Friday, July 8 before the All-Star break Tuesday, July 12. Bowie is back home Thursday, July 14 for a four game home stand against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
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.
