The Bowie Baysox swept a doubleheader from the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Prince George’s Stadiumon Friday night. The Baysox took the first game, 5-2, and then blanked the Squirrels, 3-0, in the nightcap. The Squirrels have now dropped seven of their last eight games and have already dropped this five-game series with the Baysox. The Squirrels plummeted to a season-worst eight games under .500 and have gone 8-24 in their last 32 games.
The Baysox got out of the starting blocks quickly in the first inning of game one. Richmond right-hander Craig Westcott conceded a single to Trayvon Robinson to start the inning and then walked Niuman Romero. Robinson was forced at third, but with two outs, Aaron Baker cracked a single into right field. Romero scored for a 1-0 advantage.
Bowie right-hander Tim Bascom made the game one start and held the Squirrels in check through four scoreless innings. However, Richmond tied the game against his replacement, lefty Jason Gurka, in the fifth inning. Gurka walked Jarrett Parker with one out. An out later, Skyler Stromsmoe doubled to left-center to put runners at second and third. With Ryan Lollis at the plate, Gurka uncorked a wild pitch to bring in Parker to tie the game, 1-1.
It didn’t take long for the Baysox to reclaim the lead. Westcott walked Romero for the second time in the ballgame to start the bottom of the fifth. Caleb Joseph followed with a single and Ronny Paulino put Bowie back on top with an RBI single to left field.
Westcott was lifted after Paulino’s single. He worked four innings plus three batters, conceding two runs – one earned. Westcott permitted six hits and walked a season-high five batters. He did not factor in the decision.
The Squirrels rallied in the sixth inning against right-hander Oliver Drake. Javier Herrera singled into right field to start the inning. He moved to second on a ground out from Adam Duvall and stayed there as Mark Minicozzi struck out. Angel Villalona then came to the plate with two outs and quickly fell behind 0-2. However, he lined the 0-2 pitch up the first-base line for a double. Herrera scored to level the ballgame, 2-2.
Once again, the Baysox had the answer. Left-hander Josh Osich started his second inning of relief and conceded a lead-off double to Josh Horton to the left-field corner. Osich then walked both Kyle Hudson and Robinson to load the bases with nobody out. Richmond went back to the bullpen for righty Edwin Quirarte. Romero greeted him and laced a two-run single to right-center field. Caleb Joseph then capped the scoring and made it 5-2 with a sacrifice fly to left field.
All three runs in the sixth inning were charged to Osich (0-2), who took the game one loss. Drake (2-0) recovered to finish the ballgame with a scoreless seventh inning. He earned the win over two innings of relief for Bowie.
The Baysox also struck hurriedly in the second game. Joseph spared a two-out uprising in the first inning with a single into left field. He advanced to second on a wild pitch from left-hander Ryan Bradley. Luis Martinez then cracked a single back through the box for a 1-0 Bowie advantage.
Brandon Waring added to the Baysox lead in the second inning. He clubbed his 12th home run of the season to right-center field, stretching the Bowie advantage to 2-0.
Bowie also got four scoreless innings from a spot-starter in game two. Left-hander Chris Petrini – in his first career start – blanked the Squirrels on just two hits. He walked one and struck out four. He was not eligible for the decision despite the fine showing.
Bradley (0-5) also lasted four innings in his first start since May 16th. He allowed two runs on six hits, walked none and struck out one. He endured the loss despite inducing three inning-ending double play balls.
Right-hander Clay Schrader (4-1) came on to work two scoreless innings for the win in relief. He retired all six batters that he faced, including three strikeouts. Righty Marcel Prado handled the ninth inning to earn his ninth save of the season.
The Baysox added a final unearned run off left-hander Phil McCormick in the sixth inning. Joseph knocked in the run with an RBI single.
Game four of the five-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Prince George’s Stadium on Saturday night. Richmond LHP Edwin Escobar (0-0, —) will make the start and his Double-A debut against Bowie RHP Tyler Wilson (3-1, 2.67). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:05 p.m. on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio.
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Chris Graham
