Richmond takes series opener from Bowie, 5-4

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (16-22) overtook the Bowie Baysox (21-20) and claimed a, 5-4, win in front of 7,219 at The Diamond on Friday night.  The win came in the opener of four-game series and the first game of a weeklong homestand.

Bowie struck quickly to take the lead against lefty Kelvin Marte.  With one out in the first inning, Marte grazed Mike Yastrzemski to spark the inning.  Quincy Latimore followed and hooked a double into the left-field corner.  An out later, David Freitas lined a two-run single into left-center field for a 2-0 Bowie lead.

Richmond got a run back immediately in the bottom of the first against left-hander Tim Berry.  Rando Moreno led off the inning with a swinging-bunt single.  Devin Harris followed and moved Moreno to third with a single to left-center field.  Mac Williamson then grounded into a double-play, but Moreno scored to trim the lead in half, 2-1.

The Squirrels pulled even in the second.  Ricky Oropesa led off and rifled a double into the right-field corner.  Myles Schroder followed with a bunt-single to put runners at the corners with nobody out.  Berry struck out the next two hitters, but then issued consecutive walks to Jackson Williams and Moreno to force in the tying run.

The Baysox grabbed the lead back hurriedly in the third.  Glynn Davis opened the inning with a single and Yastrzemski followed with a double driven to the wall in right-center field.  Mitch Delfino then committed an error on a groundball from Latimore, allowing Davis to score for a 3-2 advantage.

Moreno was again the spark plug as the Squirrels caught up again in the fifth.  Moreno led off with his second hit of the night – a single back through the middle.  Harris followed and yanked a double into the left-field corner.  Moreno moved to third on the double, and scored to tie the game, 3-3, when Mac Williamson grounded out.  Delfino then rejuvenated the inning with a single to right field.  Oropesa followed and drove a double to deep right field.  Harris scored to give Richmond their first lead, 4-3.  Myles Schroder made it a two-run lead when he knocked Delfino in with a sacrifice-fly to right field.

Berry (0-4) was lifted during the fifth inning and surrendered five earned runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.  He walked two, struck out two and suffered his fourth loss of the season.

Marte (4-0) tried to continue into the sixth inning, but Freitas led off the inning and sent a solo-home run to left field that pulled Bowie back within a run, 5-4.  Marte was lifted, having conceded four earned runs on six hits.  He walked two, struck out three and won his fourth consecutive start.

Right-hander Edwin Quirarte bridged the ballgame to the ninth inning as he followed Marte with three strong scoreless innings.  Lefty Josh Osich finished off the win with a scoreless ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the year.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at The Diamond on Saturday night.  Richmond RHP Chris Stratton (0-4, 4.75) will make the start against Bowie RHP Terry Doyle (2-1, 4.64).  The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 5:35 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.