March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

Baysox Win, Still Miss Playoffs

The Baysox beat Erie 3-2 in a rain-shortened game Monday afternoon, but after a win by Richmond in another rain-shortened game, Bowie still misses the playoffs. The Baysox finish the season 75-66, which puts them in third place and one half game behind Richmond.

Playing in Altoona this afternoon, Richmond hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning to take a 2-1 lead before the tarp was pulled on the field. Typically because the eighth inning was incomplete the game reverts back to the seventh inning, but in this instance, Major League Baseball Rule 4.12(b)(4)(i) applies and awards Richmond the victory.

With 75 wins, the Baysox matched their 2010 season total and won the second most games in franchise history. The franchise record for wins in a season is 84 and it was achieved in 1994 and 2008.

“I’m really proud of all our guys; you always talk about development and seeing players get better and each night you go out there and you see players do something different or something better and eventually it begins to click, so I was really proud with how some progressed out there,” said Manager Gary Kendall.

Right-handed starting pitcher Tim Bascom had his second strong outing in a row during this home stand as he pitched seven innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out three. Bascom finished second on the team in wins (9) and strikeouts (110) and fourth in the Eastern League in ERA (3.11).

“I hit a little lull – maybe I had some dead arm for a while in August, but I just focused on throwing a lot of strikes and trying to get ahead of hitters and it worked out for me,” Bascom said. “One of the key things I wanted to focus on this year was finishing strong and I feel like I really did that this year and I was happy with the way it ended.”

The Baysox jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning against Erie starter Jay Voss.  Center fielder Xavier Avery led off with a walk and shortstop Pedro Florimon doubled to left field to put runners at second and third base with no one out.
Left fielder LJ Hoes then knocked in Avery on a groundout to third base.  With two outs, first baseman Joe Mahoney added to the lead with a single to center field to make the score 2-0.

In the fifth inning, the SeaWolves got on the board against Bascom.  Deik Scram led off with a double to right field and was bunted over to third before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Michael Rockett to make the score 2-1.

The Baysox got an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning against Erie reliever Jared Gayhart. Second baseman Buck Britton reached on a fielder’s choice before Austin Wood replaced Gayhart on the mound. Britton stole second and with two outs, Florimon hit a double down the left field line to give the Baysox a 3-1 lead.

Erie added another run in the top of the ninth inning against right-handed reliever Jose Diaz. Bryan Pounds drew a lead off walk and Rawley Bishop followed with a single to left field. Pounds scored on the play after a fielding error by Robbie Widlansky that made the score 3-2. The ninth inning was not completed due to rain.

Left-handed reliever Pedro Viola pitched the eighth inning in relief of Bascom and did not allow a run or a hit while striking out two batters. Diaz pitched the ninth inning and allowed one unearned run, but did not record an out before the game was cancelled.

After a strong game Sunday where they scored 10 runs on 17 hits, the Baysox came out strong again Monday with two hits and two runs in the first inning before slowing down. The team finished with just six hits, but scored three runs, which were enough to win the game.

The end of the season comes abruptly for the Baysox who were in playoff position for much of the second half of the season, before slumping late in August and being passed by Richmond.

“It was a great experience being at this level and playing against the competition we played against and to have a chance to be in the playoffs,” Hoes said. “You play the whole season into August hoping to have a chance to get to the playoffs. We had opportunities – we were up four or five games going into the later weeks of August and we just didn’t come through.”

Baysox Baseball – We’ll Knock Your ‘Sox Off.  The Baysox 19th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is nearly over at Prince George’s Stadium.  Parking and game programs are free at every Baysox home game. To purchase Baysox single game tickets and check out all the exciting promotions, visit www.baysox.com or call the Baysox Box Office at (301) 464-4865.

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