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Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins Cycle Sends Bowie To Championship Series

By Chuck Boemmel|
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 31: The Oriole Bird mascot waves a flag on the mound during Opening Day ceremonies before the start of the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 31: The Oriole Bird mascot waves a flag on the mound during Opening Day ceremonies before the start of the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The Bowie Baysox went from a record of 7-23 to Eastern League Western Division Champions. The Baltimore Orioles affiliate is now one step away from a championship title.

The Bowie Baysox (Double-A affiliate) defeated the Harrisburg Senators (Washington affiliate) 12-5 on Saturday afternoon in front of 2,761 fans at FNB Field to clinch the Eastern League’s Western Division pennant.  The Baltimore Orioles affiliate will now face the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees affiliate) in a best of five series for the championship starting Tuesday, September 10th at Arm & Hammer Park in New Jersey.

The Baysox were led on Saturday by outfielder Cedric Mullins who went 5 for 6 with three runs scored, one double, one triple, one home run, four RBI, one strikeout and one stolen base.  He hit the second pitch of the game for a home run and the Baysox never looked back.  Additionally, his cycle was the first for Bowie since Manny Machado hit for one in 2012.  Over the series Mullins slashed .421 (8 for 19)/ .476/ .789 with six runs scored.

Left-handed pitcher Alex Wells needed 84 pitches to navigate 6.0 innings and get the win over Trenton.  Wells allowed just one run on six hits while walking one and striking out six; he faced 24 Trenton batters in the winning effort.

First baseman Preston Palmeiro helped Mullins seal the victory with a 3 for 5 game in which he scored two runs, doubled, hit a home run and knocked in four while striking out once.  Over the series Palmeiro hit .412/ .444/ .824 with 6 RBI.

The Baysox scored a total of 28 runs on 46 hits in the series and went yard a total of eight times with Yusniel Diaz, Carlos Perez, Ryan Ripken, Anderson Feliz (twice), Mullins, Jesmuel Valentin, and Palmeiro all getting in on the homer parade.

Outfielder Ryan McKenna (.636/ .733/ .727) and infielder Anderson Feliz (.294/ .400/ .647, 2 HR) also made solid contributions offensively during the Division series while LHP Luis Gonzalez and LHP Zac Lowther joined Wells as the winning pitchers of record.

The Championship Series looks to be an exciting one as the Baysox and Thunder split the season’s series at three wins each.  This will be just the second Championship Series for the Baysox in their 27-year history.

Expect complete Championship Series coverage here at Birds Watcher.

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