March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

Thunder Thumps Baysox

The Baysox jumped out to an early lead, but could not hold off the Trenton Thunder and complete the sweep as they lost 6-4 at home Sunday evening. The loss drops the Baysox to 55-44 on the season and one-half game behind Harrisburg for first place.

Baltimore Orioles Cesar Izturis and Vladimir Guerrero were in the lineup for the Baysox Sunday night on Major League rehab assignments. Each came through with one hit and one run to help the Baysox.

“It felt good to play in Bowie, especially seeing the guys from Spring Training – it’s a good group of people here and they play hard to win games,” Guerrero said.

Despite taking an early three-run lead, the Baysox were unable to hold on and win the game. In each of the four games in the series, the team that scored first lost as the winner was forced to come from behind.

“We get three in the bottom of the first and things are looking pretty good,” said Manager Gary Kendall. “They didn’t make plays there so it gave us some opportunities and then we get the big hit. They were almost carbon copy innings as we go out there in the top of the second and we just didn’t have a good inning defensively and they even it up. Then it’s a dogfight after that – I thought the guys competed, but we just didn’t get the big hit.”

The Baysox took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning against Trenton starter Shaeffer Hall.  They loaded the bases on hits by Guerrero and center fielder Xavier Avery and then left fielder L.J. Hoes reached on an error. The next batter, first baseman Joe Mahoney hit a double into the gap that cleared the bases and gave the Baysox a 3-0 lead. 

In the top of the second inning the Thunder evened the score against right-handed starting pitcher Oliver Drake.  Rob Lyerly led off with a walk then Melky Mesa and Jose Gil both reached on infield singles.  With two outs in the inning, Addison Maruszak hit a bases clearing double that made the score 3-3. 

Zoilo Almonte led off the third with a home run to right field on the first pitch of the inning that gave the Thunder a 4-3 lead.  

The Baysox tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.  With one out, Izturis hit a double up the left field line.  Then with two outs, Avery hit a double to right-center field to make the score 4-4. The double was the first and only hit for Izturis in eight at-bats with the Baysox.

“It felt good to get the double, to get a hit, especially in that situation,” Izturis said. “It was a big play in the game. My timing was better than yesterday and if I play tomorrow it will be better than today. Today was good progress.”

In the top of the sixth inning, the Thunder took the lead right back.  Damon Sublett led off with a double to right-center field and then scored on a two out bloop single by Maruszak to give the Thunder a 5-4 lead.

The Thunder tacked on one run in the ninth inning against right-handed reliever Pat Egan.  They loaded the bases with no one out on a walk and a single before right-handed reliever Raul Rivero entered the game. He walked a batter to load the bases, but got Almonte to line into a double play before throwing a wild pitch that allowed a runner to score from third and make the score 6-4.   

Drake pitched six innings and allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out seven and was credited with his second loss of the season. Egan pitched two innings in relief of Drake and allowed one run on one hit while striking out two batters. Rivero pitched the ninth inning for the Baysox and struck out one batter while not allowing a hit.

The Baysox out hit the Thunder, but were unable to come through with big hits with runners in scoring position. Bowie had the same problem Saturday night as they stranded 24 runners in the final two games of the series.

Monday, LHP Oliver Zach Britton (0-1, 3.86) takes the mound for the Baysox as Bryce Harper and the Harrisburg Senators come to town. His opponent will be RHP Tanner Roark (4-7, 6.29).

The Baysox are home through Wednesday, July 27 for a seven game home stand that features the Jayson Werth Bobblehead giveaway Monday, July 25 and Tailgate Tuesday, July 26.

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 or by calling the Baysox box office at (301) 464-4865.

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