Clutch hitting and lights-out pitching contribute to 2-0 series start for Baysox
*Cover Photo: John Topoleski
The Bowie Baysox have been wanting something to go their way. Prior to the current 6-game home series with the Harrisburg senators, they were just 4-8 over their previous 12 games.
In the first two games of the series, it has been "so far, so good." Everything has gone the Baysox way in the first third of the series as they have claimed both games. Here is a brief look at what the Baysox did in each of the first two games to put them ahead early on in the series.
Tuesday
On Military Appreciation Night, the Baysox claimed the series opener 5-3 on the heels of a 10-hit team effort and a 3-for-4, 3 RBI night from Orioles No. 8 prospect Jud Fabian. The Baysox opened the scoring immediately as in the bottom of the first, Fabian and No. 5 prospect Dylan Beavers attacked the first pitches they saw and cracked home runs off Senators starter Chase Solesky.
For Fabian, his 17th homer of the season roke him out of an 0-for-20 dating back to last Tuesday, July 30. For Beavers, his 12th homer broke him out of an 0-for-13 dating back to Wednesday, July 31.
Fabian would be responsible for the next two runs that the Baysox would score. He came up again the next inning and with the corners covered, he drove home another run with an RBI single to left field. He drove in another run in the 4th with an RBI ground ball single up the middle, scoring Noelberth Romero. At this point in the game, he was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, and that hitless slump appeared to be thrown out the back window.
The Baysox would remain hitless until the bottom of the 7th when Orioles No. 2 prospect Samuel Basallo reached base via a single. Beavers then reached base himself and advanced Basallo to third after a fielder's choice and a fielding error by Senators first baseman Dermis Garcia. The Baysox' final run of the night would be scored via a sacrafice fly by Orioles No. 24 prospect Frederick Bencosme, his 33rd RBI of the season.
Meanwhile, as the Baysox offense chipped away, the pitching mowed down the Senators offense.
Peter Van Loon got the starting assignment on the mound and cut down the Senators offense. The most damage that Harrisburg did against Van Loon was in the first inning when two base runners reached via a hit batter, whom was later cut down trying to steal off of Basallo, and a single. Overall, Van Loon needed just 74 pitches (47 strikes) to go 5 scoreless innings in which he allowed 3 hits, walked just one, and struck out 6 batters.
Logan Rinehart and Keagan Gillies relieved Van Loon for the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings, and both held Harrisburg scoreless. It was not until the top of the 9th when the Baysox ran into some trouble. A Romero error started the Senators rally, in which they managed to score 2 runs afterwards and put them back within 2 runs. Nick Richmond was pulled with 2 outs and the bases loaded for Houston Roth, who walked the first batter he faced resulting in a run charged to Richmond.
The bases remained loaded in a 5-3 game, the tying and go-ahead runs on base for Harrisburg. On a 2-2 count, Roth proceeded to strike Cody Wilson out swinging to end the threat and secure a gutsy victory for the Baysox. It was a tense ending, but a win is a win and overall, mostly everything went the Baysox way in the series opener. It certainly set good vibes for the following day.
Notable Performers
Jud Fabian: 3-for-4, HR (17), 3 RBI, 1 R
Dylan Beavers: 1-for-4, HR (12), RBI, R
Peter Van Loon: 5 IP, 3 H, 6 K, 1 BB, 0 HR
Silas Ardoin: 2-for-4, 2 TB
Wednesday
It seemed like the perfect situation for Wednesday's overcast and misty evening contest. The lineup was feeling good, and Alex Pham was set to start on the bump. Pham had sported a 2.70 ERA, equivaent to 5 earned runs, over his previous 4 starts. He was set to do battle against a struggling Senators lineup, one that could muster just 6 hits the day before and 3 runs all in one inning.
After walking the leadoff batter, JT Arruda, Pham got to work quick by inducing a flyout and a 6-4-3 double play, ending his top of the 1st after 11 pitches.
Immediately afterwards, the Baysox offense got to work.
Senators starter Dustin Saenz was all over the place in the bottom of the inning, and he could not find the strike zone at all. Four batters into the inning, and he is already down 2-0, he had thrown 10 balls and 7 strikes. The Baysox opened the offensive surge with a Fabian walk and a Basallo single. Beavers drove in a run with an RBI single and Bencosme followed with another hit, loading the bases for Silas Ardoin. He dumped an RBI single to shallow right field, scoring Basallo and putting Bowie ahead 2-0 with no outs.
Orioles No. 19 prospect John Rhodes was the first out of the inning as he flew out to Wilson in right field. Then, utility infielder Ryan Higgins stepped up to the plate and pulled out the big boomer swing in a big, game-defining moment. On a 1-2 count, he deposited a fastball in the lower inner-third of the zone way over the left field wall for a grand slam.
It was his 7th home run of the season and it set the tone for the remainder of the evening, as Bowie had all of the momentum and Harrisburg was silenced before the first inning was even complete. By the time Saenz got the final out of the inning, Bowie was already up 6-0.
The Baysox would score their final run of the game the next inning. After a double-steal by Fabian and Basallo put runners on second and third, Bencosme laced an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Fabian and adding a seventh run for the Baysox. That would prove to be all Bowie needed.
Pham would work a total of 5 innings, keeping Harrisburg scoreless while allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 5 batters and he needed just 67 pitches (49 strikes) to complete his 5 innings of work. Levi Stoudt came in relief for the next two innings and was about as sharp as sharp gets. With his fastball reaching 96 MPH and his offspeed stuff working, he needed just 13 pitches to get through 2 scoreless frames. Bradley Brehmer worked the final two innings and allowed just one run, closing out a well-played 7-1 Baysox victory.
Notable Performers
Ryan Higgins: 1-for-4, GS (7), 4 RBI, R
Alex Pham: 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Silas Ardoin: 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB
Samuel Basallo: 4-for-5, 4 TB, SB
Moving Forward
The momentum is Bowie's way right now. The offense is working together to get timely runs across, and the pitching has been overwhelmingly dominant. Of course, it is nice to see the bats swinging the way they are given the Baysox' recent offensive struggles, especially in July. Some individual bats are heating up as well. Ardoin was just a .237 hitter in July, but was hitting .344 in 10 games prior to this week and is off to a hot 4-for-8 (.500) start in this current series. The Baysox should be fine this week as long as they keep swinging the bats they way they are. They need to capitalize with runners in scoring position, and they need to maintain their recent wholefield approach which has garnered them success. This will provide run support and wiggle room for their pitching that has been excellent as of late.
Yesterda's game was postponed due to inclement weather. That game will be made up as prt of a single-admission doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch will be 5:05 pm while gates will open at 4:30 pm. More information about ticket exchanges and the doubleheader can be found here.
The Baysox and the Senators will wrap up the final four games of the series this weekend, starting tonight with a 7:05 pm first pitch. Join the Baysox and your fellow fans for Grateful Dead night tonight, Touch A Truck tomorrow, and Pirates and Princesses day on Sunday Funday. Tickets can be bought here.
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