Turn of events not going way of Baysox By JAKE LINGER Sports Editor
The Bowie Baysox just may be the most streaky team in the history of the Eastern League.
The team began 2008 with a five-game losing streak, followed by four straight wins between April 22 and 25, followed by a 14-game home win streak between May 2 and 20 and now an ongoing seven-game losing streak, where they have lost nine of their last 13 games.
June 8, Bowie led the Southern Division by 21/2 games, but have fallen 51/2 games behind the Akron Aeros. The Baysox will open a three-game series tomorrow evening against the Altoona Curve, who are eight games behind Bowie in the division. At just past the halfway point of the season, it is ordinarily a little early to call any game a must-win for the Baysox, but if the up-and-down streaks are going to continue throughout the second half, perhaps it is time to begin thinking in those terms.
One of the major pitfalls any team in any sport faces is losing to the teams that should be beaten.
Welcome home, Altoona!
Once this weekend's series is in the books, Bowie will travel to Harrisburg for a four-game series against the team that stands between the Baysox and Aeros. The Baysox will then return home for a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves, who are 91/2 games back in the division, before embarking on a seven-game road trip to Akron and Harrisburg, respectively.
If the Bowie bats and pitching can somehow perform at their best during the same nine-inning stretch, the Baysox could begin rolling very soon with a favorable schedule that leads them to the All-Star Break July 15 and 16.
As of late, Bowie has dropped games by the respective scores of 2-1, 5-0, 5-0 and 11-10. The 2-1 loss to Altoona was a true shame as Bowie starter Brad Bergesen allowed only one earned run to go along with a Lou Montanez home run.
Adam Loewen, on major league rehab assignment, threw a scoreless inning in relief, as did Gerrardo Casadiego, in the combined pitching gem that was not backed up by the Bowie bats.
The maiden 5-0 loss to Altoona was especially hard to take after six shutout, no-hit innings from David Hernandez. In fact, had it not been for back-to-back walks in the second and third innings, he would have been in the midst of a perfect game. The Baysox bats were not solely to blame this time around though. Reliever Felix Romero entered the game in the seventh and immediately gave up the game-winning home run on the first pitch.
Anyone who plays the lottery and constantly searches for hidden numbers to play in the Pick 3 should have looked for 506. For the second consecutive game against Altoona, the Baysox lost, 5-0, for their sixth straight loss.
Neither pitching nor hitting could get on track as starter Chorye Spoone pitched five innings and allowed four runs on four hits and three free bases. At the plate, Bowie sluggers managed a sad three hits with no base runner ever advancing to second base.
Fielding has sometimes been the Baysox's Achilles heel this season as well. Opening day catcher Ben Davis had an abominable time behind the plate with numerous passed balls, and was transferred to Norfolk May 6.
In this final game against Altoona, it was the same old song. Altoona scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Shelby Ford drew a one-out walk and went to third on a single by Jason Delaney. With two outs and runners on the corners, Delaney attempted to steal second base. Baysox catcher Brian Peterson's throw had a chance to get the runner at second but shortstop Blake Davis dropped the ball, and Ford had already taken off for home. Both runners were credited with steals on the play.
But lightning does not strike twice, right?
The Curve scored the final run of the game off Loewen in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the lightning struck. Melvin Dorta reached on a two-out bunt single to third base and went to third on a single by Luis Cruz. With Jason Bowers batting, Loewen had Cruz picked off at first base. Cruz broke for second and Dorta attempted to score from third. First baseman Ryan Finan threw to second to retire Cruz, but Blake Davis couldn't handle the throw and both runners were safe. Davis was charged with an error on the play.
The Baysox seemingly are in the middle of an identity crisis. Most successful teams win with a concentration on hitting or batting, but always with excellent fielding. Maybe Bowie simply needs to decide if they are a pitching team or a hitting team.
Monday's game against Akron is a perfect example of the team's identity crisis. Bowie scored 10 runs on 15 hits - and lost, 11-10 in extra innings. Chris Tillman has been spectacular for Bowie all season, but he had a rough night giving up four runs on seven hits in 31/3 innings.
The offense stepped up and did their part to bail Tillman out, but even the mid- to late-inning pitching had issues. Again, are the Baysox a hitting team, or a batting team?
Bowie is still in an advantageous spot in the Southern Division. They have figured out what first place feels like and sitting in third, there is little doubt that the team is eager to leapfrog Harrisburg and Akron.
But which car do they want to drive to the dance?
