Baysox Grounded In Richmond
The Baysox took an early lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Left fielder Danny Figueroa lined a one-out single to right field and stole second base. Two batters later designated hitter Joel Guzman hit a single to left field, plating Figueroa for a 1-0 lead.
Bowie added another run in the top of the fourth inning. Third baseman Brandon Waring led off the inning with a pop fly in foul territory by first base, but first baseman Sharlon Schoop dropped the ball. Schoop was charged with an error, and Waring launched his 22nd home run of the season to left field. The solo shot put the Baysox up 2-0.
Richmond responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Designated hitter Brad Boyer led off the inning with a single to right field and scored when Schoop hit a one-out double to left field. Center fielder Clay Timpner followed with a single to left field, putting runners on the corners with one out. Right fielder Juan Ciriaco drove both runners in with a double to left field, and catcher Eliezer Zambrano capped the scoring with a two-out RBI double to left field. After shortstop Ryan Lormand flew out to end the inning, the Squirrels had scored four times and held a 4-2 lead.
Left-hander Pedro Viola kept the Baysox in the game despite the four-run fourth inning. He pitched 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out three batters and did not issue a walk. The 6.0 innings matched his longest start of the season, August 27, against New Britain.
Bowie put runners in scoring position with leadoff doubles in the top of the fifth and sixth innings, but neither runner advanced past second base. The Baysox finally managed to push a run across in the top of the seventh inning. Figueroa drew a two-out walk and moved to third base when second baseman Ryan Adams lined a single to center field. Guzman drove Figueroa in for the second time in the game with a single to right field before a pop fly ended the inning with the Baysox trailing 4-3.
Baysox relievers Brandon Cooney and Chad Thall worked a scoreless seventh inning for the Baysox. Conney retired the first two batters he faced before allowing a double to Brock Bond. He was relieved by Thall, who struck out Boyer to end the inning.
Caleb Joseph put the Baysox in a position to tie the game with a one-out double in the top of the eighth inning, but Richmond relievers Adrian Martin and Rafael Cova retired the last five batters in order to close out the season.
Baltimore Orioles reliever David Hernandez worked the bottom of the eighth inning for Bowie. He allowed a one-out single to Schoop, but retired the other three batters he faced with a pop fly and a pair of ground outs.
The Baysox welcome fans back to Prince George's Stadium for the longest running haunted attraction in the region, The Patuxent Research Lab. The research lab terrifies fans Fridays and Saturdays in October, as well as Halloween Sunday. Fans can find more details on the haunted house at www.baysox.com.
The Baysox 2010 campaign has come to an end. The Baysox open the 2011 season on the road in Harrisburg Thursday, April 7. They play their first game at Prince George's Stadium Monday, April 11, at 7:05 p.m.