Three-run ninth pushes Bowie past Richmond

The Bowie Baysox (13-11) struck for three runs in the ninth inning to steal the opener of a four-game series from the Richmond Flying Squirrels (13-10), 3-2, at The Diamond on Monday night.

Trailing 2-0 to the top of the ninth inning, Bowie rallied for five hits and three runs against Richmond right-hander Cody Hall.  Niuman Romero led off with a single into left field.  Christian Walker followed with a single and Dariel Alvarez bunted the two runners into scoring position.  Hall then committed a balk to force in a run.  Chih-Hsien Chiang tied the game, 2-2, with a single into right field.  Hall recorded the second out of the inning, but Michael Ohlman singled on the infield to extend the rally and Brian Ward delivered the eventual game-winning single into right field.  Hall (1-1) was saddled with the loss.

The Squirrels struck first in the second inning against right-hander Zach Davies.  Davies opened the door with a lead-off walk issued to Jarrett Parker.  Parker stole second base and scored easily when Ricky Oropesa laced an opposite-field double into the left-field corner.

Richmond tacked a run onto their lead against Davies in the fifth inning.  Ryan Lollis keyed the inning when he led off and roped a triple off the wall in right-center field.  A batter later, Matt Duffy rifled a single through the left side of the infield.  Lollis came in for a 2-0 lead.

Meanwhile, lefty Ty Blach (2-1) was sensational in his finest outing as a Squirrel.  He breezed through 6 2/3 innings, shutting out the Baysox on just three hits.  He walked just one and struck out two in an efficient and effective outing.  The late Bowie uprising cost Blach his second win of the season.

Davies worked seven strong innings.  He allowed just the two earned runs on four hits.  He walked five, but also struck out ten.  He did not factor in the decision.

Left-hander Bryce Bandilla bridged the ballgame from Blach to the ill-fated ninth inning, recording four outs, including the final out in the seventh inning.

Left-hander Jason Gurka (1-1) earned the win for Bowie after working a scoreless eighth inning.  Righty Oliver Drake earned his fourth save with a clean ninth inning.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. on Tuesday morning at The Diamond. Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (1-0, 0.61) will make the start against Bowie LHP Jake Pettit (1-2, 8.69).  Pregame coverage will begin on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com at 10:05 a.m.