Baysox return home and even record at .500 By JAKE LINGER Sports Editor
The Bowie Baysox returned home to Prince George's Stadium following a seven-game road trip that took the team through Connecticut and New Hampshire. And to welcome their fans back to "LouieVille," the Baysox defeated the Eastern League Northern Division-leading Portland Sea Dogs, 4-3.
Since beginning the season with five consecutive losses the Baysox have won 11 of 18 games and have quietly snuck their way into third place in the Southern Division, just three games behind division front-runners, the Harrisburg Senators.
While the Bowie bats have become more active over the last 10 days, pitching has been the catalyst for the recent Bowie surge. Chris Waters boasts a 4-0 record to accompany his 1.73 ERA. For his efforts, Waters was named the Bank of America Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 20. Chris Tillman and Chorye Spoone are each 2-0 while Bradley Bergesen is 1-0 with a flawless ERA. David Hernandez is also 1-0 for Bowie. Pitching will be key this season if the Baysox plan to challenge for their first Eastern League title in team history.
Bowie used the bottom of the second inning to put four runs on the board against Portland, who are in the midst of their first and only trip to Bowie this season. Timely hitting and smart base running - and a little luck - sparked the offensive burst.
Right fielder Nolan Reimold sent a deep drive to center field that was mishandled by Bubba Bell. Reimold stretched the play into a triple. Designated hitter Zach Dillon followed with an offering to right-center field that was hauled in by Sean Danielson, but was still good enough for Reimold to tag from third to give Bowie the 1-0 lead.
Following a Sebastien Boucher walk, Bowie shortstop Blake Davis sent a triple to the center field wall. Bell crashed hard into the wall while attempting to make the catch and was visited by the Sea Dogs trainer, but remained in the game. A Travis Brown ground out scored Davis from third base on the fielder's choice.
Second baseman Carlos Rojas stood in and, with Bowie leading 3-0, singled and was followed by a Lou Montanez RBI double to put Bowie ahead by four runs. Jeff Nettles popped up to end the inning.
Tillman pitched 51/3 innings, giving up only one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six Sea Dogs. Kam Mickolio entered the game in relief of Tillman and after retiring his first batter for the second out of the inning allowed Portland to score two runs with two outs.
Rojas led off the Bowie seventh with a single that just skimmed under the glove of Portland shortstop Iggy Suarez. Montanez, who has been on fire at the plate in recent games, hit into the double play and was followed by a Nettles fly ball to center field to end the inning.
Portland started the eighth inning with a Jeff Corsaletti triple to deep center, his fourth hit of the game. With no outs and a runner at third, Bowie manager Brad Komminsk replaced Mickolio with Gerardo Casadiego. A John Otness grounder to third held the lead runner and left enough time for Brown to throw Otness out at first. Aaron Bates then sent an RBI sac fly to right field for the second out, bringing the Sea Dogs to within 4-3. Defense saved the day for Bowie when an Andrew Pinckney drive down the right field line was waiting for him at second base, thanks to a missile of a throw from Reimold.
Each team threatened to score again, but neither would manifest any runs and Bowie held on for their 12th win of the season to go along with their 12 losses. Julio Manon recorded his fifth save of the season.
The Baysox will finish their series with Portland at 11:05 a.m. today and then host the Akron Aeros for a three-game series before heading out on a seven-game road trip. The staff at Prince George's Stadium will not be resting, however, as they will prepare for the U.S.A Olympic softball team exhibition game against the Washington Glory May 10. For information, visit www.baysox.com.
