The Bowie Baysox erupt for six runs in the 10th inning.
PORTLAND – If there is one saving grace from Thursday afternoon’s Portland Sea Dogs game, it’s that several of the school groups that were in attendance left Hadlock Field before things got ugly.
They were spared having to watch the Bowie Baysox explode for six runs in the top of the 10th inning to top the Sea Dogs 11-6 and salvage a split of the four-game series.
Mike Fontenot had three hits and drove in four runs for Bowie. Kelly Ramos added a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning as the Baysox erased a four-run deficit to tie the game.
“We had some big hits from the bottom of our lineup,” Bowie manager Dave Trembley said in reference to his No. 7 and 8 hitters, Fontenot and Ramos.
Tony Mack also had a pair of hits out of the ninth spot.
Jeremy Owens, Kevin Haverbusch and Trace Coquillette all had solo home runs for the Sea Dogs.
Coquillette’s blast tied the game at five in the bottom of the eighth inning after Keith Reid had given the Baysox the lead an inning earlier with his third home run of the season.
Coquillette had just five hits in his previous 40 at-bats before connecting against reliever John Parrish.
“It feels like there’s 15 guys out there in the outfield,” said Coquillette. “I’m just looking for something to get me going. That ball jumped. It felt nice.”
The Sea Dogs had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth.
Kevin Youkilis and Justin Headley both walked, bringing up clean-up hitter Kelly Shoppach.
But Aaron Rakers got Shoppach to hit into a 5-4-3 double play before striking out Dustin Brisson to end the inning.
“We had our RBI guys up and we couldn’t do it,” said Johnson. “But that’s no reason to go out and give up six.”
Johnson said having Shoppach move the runners over with a bunt wasn’t an option.
“It’s not even a thought,” said Johnson. “This kid’s a young prospect. That’s his at-bat. I don’t take that away from him.”
Bowie combined five hits with three walks to break it open in the 10th against Felix Villegas (1-4).
Napoleon Calzado’s double off the left field wall caromed past Haverbusch, allowing Manny Del Rosario to motor around all the way from first with the go-ahead run.
Later in the inning, Fontenot cleared the bases with a three-run double.
“Felix just lost his command,” said Johnson. “He was behind the hitters and you can’t do that. Pitching is getting ahead of hitters. When you don’t do that, you’re playing with fire.”
Owens’ team-leading eighth home run gave Portland a seemingly comfortable 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Junior Herndon cruised through the first four innings, facing the minimum of 12 batters while throwing 30 of 39 pitches for strikes.
Bowie used three singles to get on the board in the fifth before Ramos tied it.
“That was the big play of the game,” said Trembley. “The momentum came back on our side and we took advantage of it.”
Sea Dogs notes: Brisson extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a second-inning double. He was also credited with a steal of home when Ramos’ throw to second went into center field with Brisson breaking from third on a double steal….Shortstop Raul Nieves left the game after the sixth inning after aggravating an ankle injury. He’ll be reevaluated today….Youkilis was hit by a pitch for the 13th time this season….Eric Glaser (2-2, 3.77 ERA) opposes Harrisburg’s Luke Lockwood (1-5, 5.84) as the Sea Dogs and the Senators open a four-game series tonight at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on Channel 8 (WMTW). It is On-Field Camera Day, with players available for pictures on the field from 4:30-5:15. There will also be fireworks after the game.
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