Baez started his big day in the 3rd inning with a two-RBI triple off the right field wall to give Evansville a 3-2 lead.
With the game tied in the fifth, Baez launched a 420 feet bomb to left field to retake the lead. He capped his day by providing Evansville with insurance with another two-RBI triple over the right fielder’s head in the seventh.
In total, Tuesday was a five-RBI day with a home run and two triples for the Otters’ veteran right fielder. His seven home runs are tied for second in the Frontier League.
Back and forth early, the ValleyCats plated a first inning run but Evansville responded in the second as Kona Quiggle led off with a base hit and stolen base. He came around to score on a Bryan Rosario fielders’ choice.
The ValleyCats would chip across runs in the 3rd and 5th but Baez responded in the bottom of each inning at the plate.
Kona Quiggle joined the hitting party in the fifth following Baez’s home run with a home run of his own. It was the third time this season Evansville hit back to back home runs with Baez and Quiggle accounting for two of the occurrences.
Evansville took a 5-3 lead to the seventh where Baez’s second triple blew the game open. Rosario notched a base hit to score Baez for the third run of the inning.
Justin Watland earned the win for the Otters with a five inning start, allowing just one earned run and four hits. He struck out six ValleyCats as part of his third win of the season.
Jake Polancic pitched his fourth save of the season for Evansville. He induced a game-ending flyout to a ValleyCat batter with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth on his first pitch.
Quiggle notched a two hit day and scored twice. Rosario extended his on-base streak to 14 games. A crowd of 2,682 watched the Otters improve to 10-3 at Bosse Field.
Evansville continues action against Tri-City with a Wednesday matinee at Bosse Field. A 12:05 PM CT first pitch is part of Senior Connection Wednesday with $2 Senior GA tickets.
