Fisher Cats 10, Baysox 5
- Updated: June 23, 2021
Thanks to a well-balanced offensive attack that included home runs from Samad Taylor and Nick Podkul, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) beat the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) 10-5 on Tuesday night at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie.
New Hampshire has now won four games in a row, tying their longest winning streak of the year. They also have accumulated a Double-A Northeast League-leading 248 runs and 388 hits.
The Fisher Cats offense went to work in the first inning against Baysox starter Ofelky Peralta. Austin Martin singled with one out, and Otto Lopez and Gabriel Moreno followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. Then, Jordan Groshans lined a two-run single to center to put New Hampshire up 2-0.
Chavez Young upped the lead to three with a run-scoring single, and two batters later, Brock Lundquist capped the scoring in the frame with an RBI single.
Bowie was able to respond with two runs in the first and two in the second against New Hampshire starter Mike Ellenbest.
Adley Rutschman, the top overall pick in 2019, blasted a two-run shot to right to cut the deficit to two in the opening inning.
In the bottom of the second, Toby Welk led off and walked. After a groundout, Robert Neustrom lined an RBI double to right to make it a one-run game. Cadyn Grenier then chased Ellenbest from the game with a single.
Sean Rackoski (W, 1-1) replaced Ellenbest on the mound with runners at the corners and one out, and proceeded to give up an RBI fielder’s choice to Johnny Rizer to knot the score at four.
New Hampshire regained the lead in the third against reliever Tyler Joyner (L, 3-3). Lundquist drew an eight-pitch walk with two outs before Podkul stepped to the plate. On a 2-1 pitch, Podkul drilled a two-run homer to right-center to give the Fisher Cats a 6-4 lead.
Bowie plated an unearned run in the fourth to draw within one before New Hampshire pulled away for good.
The Fisher Cats loaded the bases in the sixth against Luis Perez, and Lopez drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a two-run game again. Diogenes Almengo replaced Perez and then issued a bases-loaded walk to Moreno — who came into the game leading the league in RBIs and on-base percentage — to make it 8-5.
In the seventh, Taylor crushed his league-leading 12th homer, a two-run shot, to up the lead to five. Taylor has now hit nine homers in the month of June, tying Eric Thames for the Fisher Cats all-time record for the most long balls in one month.
Rackoski earned the win with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing just one hit and the aforementioned unearned run.
Marcus Reyes replaced Rackowski and tossed 1.1 scoreless innings. Will McAffer recorded two shutout frames before Andrew McInvale closed out the game with two scoreless innings.
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