Adam Pohl: Bowie Thriller

[weams]

Thrilling Ninth Inning Rally Lifts Bowie

Baysox Plate Four in Ninth to Comeback Late Again in 5-2 Win

For a second time on during this week-long road trip the Baysox turned a ninth inning deficit into a dramatic victory. This time a four-run ninth inning rally lifted Bowie to a 5-2 win in the series opener in Altoona, PA.

Last Thursday the Baysox plated six in the ninth to turn a four-run deficit into victory. Tonight the deficit was just one as the Baysox trailed 2-1 into the game's final frame.

Reliever Sean Keselica of Altoona had faced the minimum through two innings of work. He allowed a leadoff single to Ryan Mountcastle who lined a breaking ball into left to start the rally. Then with one down pinch hitter Audry Perez walked and was lifted for a pinch runner Anthony Santander. 

Anderson Feliz then tied the game with a soft line drive near the right field line. Mountcastle came around to score the tying run. Santander went first to third and Feliz got second when the ball was fumbled momentarily in right. With Martin Cervenka batting a passed ball allowed Santander to score and Feliz third as Bowie grabbed the lead. The icing on the cake followed. 

Cervenka blasted a two-run home run to left-center field just to the right of the bleachers beyond the outfield wall and the Baysox led 5-2. For Cervenka it was his career-best tenth home run of the year. He has connected on home runs in consecutive days and has five home runs in the month of July in just ten games played.

The Baysox got an erratic but effective start from Luis Ysla in the game. Ysla walked six batters and hit one in 6 and 2/3rd innings. But Ysla did not allow a hit until there was one out in the seventh. Zach Muckenhirn got a big out to end the seventh with the bases loaded. Tanner Chleborad (5-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the win and Branden Kline closed the door in the ninth for his eighth save in as many attempts.