Orioles No. 12 prospect's mammoth game-winning four-bagger completes 6-2 Bowie Baysox win
*Editor's Note: the author of this blog post was in attendance for this game
Walk-offs have been the name of the game lately for the Bowie Baysox, and they utilzed the walk-off in last night's 6-2 win over the Altoona Curve which secured a series win.
On a cool, breezy evening at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland, the game left a packed house of 7,988 constantly on the edge of their seats. Starter Trace Bright and the Baysox bullpen wiggled their way out of some close jams as Altoona left 8 men on base. The Baysox offense, Collin Burns in particular, kept putting great bat-on-ball, but Altoona's defenders just happened to annoyingly be there to make the lucky outs. Only Frederick Bencosme seemed to be able to sneak past the Altoona defense for the majority of the game (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI).
However, the Curve couldn't defend what was coming for them in the bottom of the 9th.
As the Baysox prepared to bat in the bottom of the 9th, emcee Evan Johnson got to work and made a rally call to the fans remaining at the game. Not many had left, and many of those fans had stuck around to celebrate the team's Negro League Day celebrations. If they weren't already rilled up before, they were now, and they were LOUD.
The Curve assigned Cameron Junker the bottom of the 9th on the mound. He hadn't allowed a run all season until the Baysox got to him on Friday night.
Due up for Bowie was Bencosme, power-hitting outfielder John Rhodes, and the speedy Burns.
Bencosme pieced a line drive to rightfield, but only for it to be caught by Tres Gonzalez. Rhodes, the previous night's walk-off hero, sent a high fly ball to deep left field that appeared to be a game-winner. However, Matt Frazier snagged it just a step infront of the wall, and Rhodes barely missed out on his second straight walk-off hit.
Burns, already frustrated from his previous at-bats, took a hard swing and roped a line drive to right-center field for the base hit that he had finally been looking for all night. Junker proceeded to walk the next two hitters in catcher Connor Pavolony and pinch-hitter Billy Cook.
Then, Jud Fabian stepped in.
At this point, the bases were loaded with 2 outs and the game tied at 2 a piece. The fans were on their feet, and Johnson was pacing on top of the dugout. On a 2-1 count, Junker tried to spin a slider on Fabian. He hung it instead, and Fabian made him pay the ultimate price.
He obliterated it over the left field wall, and the game was over.
The Baysox jumped out of the dugout and the fans went nuts as Fabian rounded the bases for a walk-off grand slam. The team celebrated at home plate with another happy Gatorade shower, and Johnson and friends danced to "YMCA" as the Baysox faithful rejoiced over an exhilerating win. Altoona slowly exited the field, exhausted and flabergasted after yet another sloppy loss defined by base-running blunders, a lack of hitting with runners in scoring position, and failed pitch executions.
The walk-off grand slam seems to be a sign of an uprising in Fabian, the Orioles' No. 12 prospect. Entering the Altoona series, he was batting just .212 with a single homer and RBI. However, on Thursday, he had a perfect 4-for-4 and then added the 2-for-5 last night with the walk-off salami. Whatever he's bee doing the past few days on and off the field, he might as well keep doing it because he has looked incredible with the bat these past few days. This will certainly not be the last time this season that Fabian treats the fans to something special like this.
Maybe he'll do it again tomorrow, and you can go congratulate Fabian and the boys tomorrow at Sunday Family Fun Day! The Baysox wrap up the 6-game set with a 1:05 pm afternoon battle with the Curve. Before the game, the team will hold a Meet The Team event with the players and coaches, allowing fans to receive autographs and take photos with the team before the game. Purchase tickets to tomorrow's game here so you can congragulate Fabian on his massive home run.
*Cover Photo Credit: Grant DeVivo
Glad to hear about that nice attendance. My family and I are regular visitors and I don’t think the attendance has ever been that high. Any idea why so many were there?