A night after managing just four hits, the Baysox offense came to life with 13 hits in a 9-2 victory at home against the Flying Squirrels Saturday night. With the win, the Baysox move to 49-42 and into sole possession of second place in the Western Division.
Third baseman Brandon Waring hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season to give the Baysox their first lead of the game and followed with a double later in the game. Waring finished the night with two runs scored and three RBIs.
“It was nice getting that out of Waring – it’s something he really needed,” said Manger Gary Kendall. “He’s been out there working really hard trying to get that swing down and put the ball in the gaps and he just kept going. He repeated his at bat later in the game so it was nice to get him going.”
Right-handed starting pitcher Chorye Spoone earned his fourth win of the season as he pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven. Spoone ran into some trouble in the early innings of the game where he allowed lead off hitters to reach base, but each time he was able to get out of the jam.
“I gave up the lead off triple and the lead off double and both innings I made good pitches,” Spoone said. “Even the triple – he inside-outed the pitch and I’m not sure how he got to that ball the way he did – and after that the whole thing was to make pitches. It was one of those things where I’m just trying to throw strikes because it’s not too often where you’re going to get out of the jam with no runs and a lead off triple.”
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Roger Kieschnick gave the Flying Squirrels the early lead with a solo home run to center field against Spoone that made the score 1-0. In the second inning the Flying Squirrels added another run. With two outs, Juan Perez scored from third base on a passed ball by catcher Steve Lerud to give Richmond a 2-0 lead.
The Baysox took their first lead of the game in the bottom second inning against Richmond starter Daryl Maday. First baseman Joe Mahoney and Lerud led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Waring then blasted a three-run home run to center field to give the Baysox a 3-2 lead.
“I was just looking for something up – we had guys on base – and he left a fastball right over the plate and I put a good swing on it,” Waring said. “I’ve faced [Maday] a ton this year and a ton last year and he’s had my number several times so I was definitely due to get him. It helps when you’ve seen a guy a lot because you know what he has and know what he’s going to try to do to you.”
In the bottom of the third inning, the Baysox added to their lead. Right fielder Buck Britton led off with a single to right-center field and Mahoney followed with a walk. Lerud knocked in Britton with a single to center field to make the score 4-2. That was the end of the night for Maday, who was then replaced on the mound by Richmond reliever Wilmin Rodriguez.
The Baysox tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Waring hit a double off the wall in left-center field and then scored on an RBI single up the middle by shortstop Pedro Florimon to make the score 5-2.
In the seventh inning, the Baysox extended their lead. Left fielder Kyle Hudson drew a lead off walk, but was eliminated when center fielder Xavier Avery grounded into a fielder’s choice. Avery moved to second when second baseman Greg Miclat singled to shortstop before Richmond reliever David Quinowski replaced Rodriguez on the mound. L.J. Hoes pinch hit for Britton and hit an RBI single up the middle to give the Baysox a four run lead. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Lerud added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 7-2.
The Baysox got two more runs in the eighth inning against Richmond reliever Jason Stoffel. With one out and Hudson at first base, Avery tripled to left-center field to knock in Hudson and Avery scored on a ground out by Miclat to extend the lead to 9-2.
Right-handed reliever Wynn Pelzer pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Baysox and allowed just one hit while striking out two batters. Right-handed reliever Armando Gabino pitched a scoreless ninth inning to finish the game for the Baysox.
The Flying Squirrels opted to remove their starter Maday after just two innings of work, opting instead for left-handed reliever Rodriguez. The Baysox started the game with five left-handed batters in the line-up and as a team have struggled against left-handed pitchers, hitting just .238 compared to .260 against righties.
“I would have rather Maday stayed in the game because that type of pitcher – who is basically a breaking ball, change-up guy that has a good arm – but he can lull you to sleep a little bit with the way he pitches,” Kendall explained. “We had some problems last night with Verdugo and I know they were thinking get [Rodriguez] in and hold the ground a little bit so maybe they could get back into it. We certainly like the see the righties – we’re a left-hand loaded line-up, but we still have to hit.”
Sunday, LHP Mike Ballard (4-0, 3.40) takes the mound for the Baysox as they finish a four game home stand against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. His opponent will be RHP Justin Fitzgerald (6-4, 3.38).
Bowie is home through Sunday, July 17 for a four game home stand against the Richmond Flying Squirrels that includes Scrubs Sunday for the game starting at 6:05 p.m. The team then begins a three game road trip to Harrisburg Monday, July 18 before returning home for seven games Thursday, July 21.
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.
