BOWIE, Md. - Shortstop Brandon Pinckney provided the power with a two-run homer as the Baysox took the finale of their four-game set against Altoona, 3-2. Right-hander Fredy Deza earned his team-leading fifth win of the season, tossing 3.0 innings of shutout relief as the Baysox took three of four from the Curve to close out the first half of play. They head into the All-Star break with a 51-40 record and sit 5.0 games behind Akron for first place in the Southern Division.

Not known for his power, Pinckney took advantage of a leadoff walk by left fielder Jonathan Tucker. After falling behind in the count 0-1, Pinckney sat on a fastball from Altoona starter Kyle Bloom and crushed it over the wall in left for his first Baysox home run this season. The blast also gave him a hit in 10 straight games, tied for the longest streak by a Baysox player this season.

“I heard the catcher set up inside,” Pinckney said. “If he put it there I knew I would put a good swing on it and luckily it went over the fence.”

The Baysox got a boost from right-hander David Hernandez, who returned to Bowie for the first time this season after going 10-4 for the team last year. Last year’s Eastern League strikeout champion allowed one earned run over 4.0 innings of work, walking one and striking out four while throwing 71 pitches.

“Anytime you can get on the bus and pitch in a real game it’s good to stay sharp,” Hernandez said. “My fastball was erratic but I was able to make pitches when I needed to and got early contact.”

Altoona’s first run came in the top of the fourth inning, as they loaded the bases with nobody out against Hernandez before he got Jason Delaney to go down swinging. Brian Friday followed with a grounder to second base, but second baseman Miguel Abreu bobbled the ball and was only able to get the out at second as Ray Chang came across with the Curve’s first run.

Deza came on in the fifth inning and looked sharp, allowing one hit while striking out three. The right-hander has bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen this season, but has been a solid performer for the Baysox no matter what his role. In 19 appearances with the Baysox this season, Deza has compiled a 3.40 ERA and held hitters to a .198 batting average in 50.1 innings of work.

The Baysox tacked on a single run in the fifth against Altoona right-hander Derek Hankins. Tucker led off the inning with a groundball to third, but Angel Gonzalez threw wildly to first putting the Baysox all-star on board to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Pinckney moved him into scoring position, Tucker showed why he is one of the most exciting players in the Eastern League. With a 1-1 count on Eric Crozier, Tucker took off for third and slid in safely as Steven Lerud’s throw went sailing into left field. Tucker crossed the plate with his team-leading 49^th run of the season, and gave the Baysox an insurance run that would be crucial later in the game.

“My job at the top of the order is to get on base and score runs,” Tucker said. “Stealing bases puts pressure on the defense and it caused some confusion.”

After Chad Thall worked a perfect eighth inning to earn his league-leading 13^th hold of the season, Ryan Ouellette came on to close out the Curve in the ninth. Pinch hitter Pedro Alvarez greeted the Baysox closer with a solo blast to deep center field to lead off the inning, ending a scoreless streak by the Baysox bullpen at 22.2 innings. Jim Negrych followed with a single to center, but Ouellette induced a 4-6-3 double play before getting Delaney looking to end the game.

Ouellette joins Tucker, Abreu and Thall as the Baysox representatives in the All-Star game this Wednesday in Trenton, N.J. He said the break can be both good and bad because of the team’s current momentum, but is looking forward to pitching in his first All-Star game.

“I think it will be nice to go out there and showcase what I can do,” Ouellette said. “Rest is always nice but I would definitely rather (go to the game).”

The Baysox will have two days off before returning to action in Akron on July 16. They will return home again on July 24 when they take on the Reading Phillies.

The Baysox 17th season as the class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is going strong! Check out www.baysox.com to see all that's going on at the stadium this year, and don't miss a moment of the action as the Baysox attempt to bring home their first Eastern League championship. Individual game tickets and ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the Baysox box office at (301) 464-4865.

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