Saturday could have gone better for the Bowie Baysox, as they were swept in a doubleheader by the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park. With the first game extending into extra innings, Bowie suffered their 11th walk-off loss, and third of the series, 3-2, while they were held to just one hit in a 6-1 loss for the conclusion.
Strong pitching dictated the first game, as Akron’s Tanner Bibee opened with six innings, the first five scoreless. Bowie only got 3 2/3 innings from Ryan Watson, as Akron sliced one run across in the fourth inning, an RBI single by Daniel Schneeman. Following a game-tying single by Hudson Haskin in the sixth inning, things carried into extras.
Thanks to scoreless performances by Easton Lucas and Shelton Perkins for Bowie, as well as Carlos Vargas and Randy Labout (W, 3-1) for Akron, the game entered the ninth inning before another single by Haskin gave Bowie the 2-1 edge.
Clayton McGinness took the bottom of the ninth for Bowie to try for the save, but could not hold the line. A sacrifice fly by Julian Escobedo tied the game, and an RBI single by Jose Tena gave Akron the win. McGinness (L, 1-2) was charged with his second blown save and walk-off loss in five days.
Game two started out fast for Akron, as they loaded the bases with only one out against Adam Stauffer. A two-RBI single by Raynel Delgado put Akron ahead, and an error later in the frame made it a three-run lead.
While playing as the home team, Bowie found no home field advantage as they managed only one hit. Following four no-hit innings by left-hander Eli Lingos, Cody Roberts collected Bowie’s only hit in the fifth inning when he doubled to left-center field. Roberts scored following an error and a wild pitch. Jordan Jones, making his Double-A debut, still handled the rest of the game, striking out two batters to earn the win.
Stauffer (L, 4-2) followed his first inning with two scoreless frames, but allowed a run on another sacrifice fly in the fourth before being lifted. Hector Perez worked scoreless through the fifth inning for Bowie, but Jake Przina allowed a pair of runs on three hit in the sixth. Wrapping up the night, Jensen Elliott tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
Bowie has now suffered 11 walk-off losses this season, tied for the most among all 120 full-season teams in Minor League Baseball. As their record falls to 53-54, as well as 26-12 in the second half, Bowie has fallen out of first place. The Erie SeaWolves, at 26-11, have taken a one-half game lead in the Southwest Division. As Akron wins the seven-game series, Bowie will try to salvage the remaining game on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
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