Carlos Moncrief delivered a game-winning single in the bottom off the 10th inning in a wild, 4-3 Richmond Flying Squirrels win on Wednesday at The Diamond.
Bowie (12-14) was one out away from locking up a win in the bottom of the ninth inning, but an error allowed the tying run to score. The Baysox then loaded the bases in the top of the 10th and could not push across a run, leading to the Squirrels comeback. Ricky Oropesa opened up the bottom of the 10th with a single and scored the winning run on Moncrief’s base hit center. Dan Slania (3-1) earned the win by escaping the top of the 10th with the game tied. Tyler Mizenko also hurled a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Richmond (10-16) will attempt to win the series and close out the homestand on Thursday morning at 10:35 AM.
Squirrels starting pitcher Adalberto Mejia took the mound after an 1:11 delay and retired the side in order to begin the game. Bowie’s Parker Bridwell was also unphased by the late start with a seven-pitch first inning. Mejia hit a speed bump to start the second inning when Baysox third baseman Garabez Rosa connected on a home run off the left field foul.
The Squirrels returned fire with a solo home run off Bridwelll in the top of the fourth. Christian Arroyo tied the game, 1-1, with a blast over the right center field wall. The high-arcing shot was the first Double-A homer for Arroyo. Bridwell was able to limit the damage to just the one run allowed in a no-decision.
Mejia came back out to start the seventh but walked the first batter in Quincy Latimore. Adrian Marine then attempted to bunt Latimore into scoring position but reached on a throwing error that advanced Latimore to third base. Glynn Davis followed with a soft ground ball out to score the runner from third to take a 2-1 lead. Two baters later, Corban Joseph extended his hiting streak to 18 with an RBI sngle to left field for a 3-1 edge. Mejia received a no-decision in the outing. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks.
Bridwell followed suite by starting the bottom of the seventh and walking the first batter he faced. Carlos Moncrief drew the walk to end theouting for Bridwell. Lefty Donnie Hart relievd Bridwell and retired the first two batters faced Christian Arroyo smacked a single to move Moncrief to second and bring up Tyler Horan. Horan struck out to end the threat.
Richmond continued the attack on Hart in the eighth inning, pushing across a run to pull to within 3-2. With one out, Hunter Cole drilled a triple to left center field. Two batters later Myles Schroder knocked a double to left, plating Cole. Hart was replaced by Ashur Toliver with the tying run aboard. Toliver quelled the rally by getting Moncrief to ground out.
Ahead 3-2 in the ninth, Toliver returned attempting to earn the save but the Bowie defense faltered. Rando Moreno rocked a broken bat double down the left field line to create hope for the Squirrels with one out. Toliver then induced a pop up and recorded a ground ball off the bat of Tyler Horan thatshould have ended the game. Second baseman Corban Joseph charged the ball and threw it hard off the glove of first baseman Joey Terdoslavich, allowing Moreno to score and tie the game.
Dan Slania entered in relief to begin extra innings for Richmond and worked around a bases loaded, nobody out jam. Slania earned the win with the disappearing act in the 10th. Heading to the bottom of the 10th, Bowie summoned righty reliever Garret Cortright out of the pen. Ricky Oropesa greeted him with a single to left and then Cortright threw a bunt attempt into centerfield. Ryder Jones followed with another sacrifice bunt and Myles Schroder was intentially walked to load the bases. That set up Moncrief for the game-winning hit into center field.
The Flying Squirrels homestand concludes Thursday May 5th at 10:35 AM at The Diamond. RHP Chase Johnson is scheduled to start for the Flying Squirrels against Baysox LHP Chris Lee. Season tickets, mini plans, and group packages are currently available by contacting the box office at 804-359-FUNN or online at www.squirrelsbaseball.com.
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