Thursday’s News & Notes — Playoff Edition

Bowie 5 Harrisburg 3
• McGowin 5⅔ IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 6K, HR, WP
• German (L, 0-1) 1⅔ IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 2K, HBP
• Sagdal 2-4, RBI
• Bichette 2-5

The BaySox rallied for three in the bottom of the 8th to break open a 2-2 game. The Sens would get back one in the 9th with a Cole Freeman walk, a wild pitch, and an RBI single from Luis Garcia to bring the tying run to the plate. Dante Bichette Jr., who had singled twice in his previous four AB’s , lined out to send to end it. Bowie won, 5-3, and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Western Division Championship Series.

Kyle McGowin started and pitched into the 6th, giving up the first two runs on five hits (one HR) and three walks while striking out six. Jordan Mills came on with nobody on to face fellow southpaw Preston “Why yes, Rafael is my father” Palmeiro and gave up a single before retiring the switch-hitting T.J. Nichting.

Jhonatan German came on in the 7th and was greeted with a ground-rule double by Cedric Mullins. Tres Barrera’s pickoff throw went to Freeman (who unfortunately was in CF, not at 2B) to move Mullins up to third. German bore down to strike out the next two and then hit a batter before getting a flyout to Freeman.

Despite the 18-pitch, high-stress inning, manager Matt LeCroy sent German out to start the 8th. After a six-pitch walk to Jesmuel Valentin, a one-pitch flyout, and a stolen base, the tying run was in scoring position.

With first base open, an intentional pass could have been ordered and a fully rested Carson Teel could have been called upon to pitch to Palmeiro and/or turn around Nichting. LeCroy stayed with German.

Palmeiro tripled to score Valentin, Nichting hit a sac fly to score Palmeiro, Mullins walked, then stole second base (rough night for Barrera, just 1-for-4 CS), then scored on Ryan McKenna’s RBI single.

With light finally dawning over Marblehead, and 44 pitches thrown, LeCroy lifted German for Frankie Bartow, who rolled a 6-3 putout to end the three-run rally.

The Harrisubrg offense was limited to seven singles—two by Bichette and Ian Sagdal—and five walks, with Freeman and Garcia drawing two apiece. The nos. 5-9 men struck out 11 times, led by Rhett Wiseman, who walked once.

The series continues tonight in Bowie with Andrew Lee (0-1, 2.56) facing off against Tyler Herb (4-2, 3.95).

Roster moves: 2B-CF Cole Freeman, 1B-LF Aldrem Corredor, C Jakson Reetz, RHP Frankie Bartow, LHP Carson Teel reassigned from Potomac; RHPs Kevin McGowan, Eduardo Vera reassigned to Potomac; C Spencer Kieboom placed on the 7-Day I.L.; RHP Aaron Barrett added to 40-man roster, recalled to Washington.