The Richmond Flying Squirrels (46-54) and Bowie Baysox (51-48) split a doubleheader in front of 7,858 at The Diamond on Friday night. The Baysox took it to the Squirrels, 10-2, in game one, while the Squirrels woke up late to claim the second game, 4-3.
The Baysox grabbed control of game one with a three-run uprising against Richmond lefty Ryan Bradley in the second inning. With one out, Seth Loman crushed a solo-home run to right-center field. Loman’s third of the year gave Bowie a 1-0 lead. Bradley then walked three of the next four hitters. With the bases loaded, Caleb Joseph cracked a two-run single through the left side of the infield to extend the lead to 3-0.
Bowie put the game out of reach and chased Bradley in the fourth inning. Trayvon Robinson delivered a one-out single and advanced to second on a ground out. Joseph knocked him in with a single to right field for a 4-0 Baysox lead. Bradley departed on the single for Joseph and left-hander Tom Vessella entered. An error allowed Christian Walker to reach and extended the inning. Brandon Waring took advantage and yanked a two-run double into the left-field corner.
Bradley (0-6) was tagged with the loss over 3 2/3 innings. He surrendered five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He matched a season-high with five walks and failed to strike out a batter.
Vessella returned in the fifth inning and found quick trouble. The Baysox loaded the bases with one out before Niuman Romero and Joseph delivered back-to-back RBI singles for an 8-0 lead. Right-hander Scott Shuman replaced Vessella and issued a bases-loaded walk to push an additional run across. Vessella was charged with four runs – three earned – in just 2/3 of an inning.
Meanwhile, Bowie right-hander Tyler Wilson was cruising. He held the Squirrels to just one hit over the first four innings, extending his consecutive scoreless string against Richmond to 16 innings. Angel Villalona finally snapped that string and put the Squirrels on the board in the fifth inning. He led off and drilled a solo-home run to left field. His third as a Squirrel made it 9-1 for Bowie.
Wilson (5-1) got back on track and finished the ballgame. He conceded an additional run in the sixth inning, but worked his first complete game of the season. He earned his fifth win in the Eastern League, allowing two runs on eight hits. He walked none and struck out six.
Waring put the Baysox in front in the second inning of game two. He launched his 15th home run of the season to left-center field. The solo-shot off lefty Jack Snodgrass gave Bowie a 1-0 lead. They added a second run in the third inning when Trayvon Robinson walked and stole second base. Joseph notched his fifth RBI of the night with a single to put Bowie in front, 2-0.
Left-hander Trent Howard had little trouble with the Squirrels through four innings. He held Richmond hitless, and faced just one over the minimum. Mark Minicozzi finally collected the Squirrels first hit to open the fifth inning. It opened the floodgates for Richmond, as Villalona, Andrew Susac and Ryan Lollis each followed with singles. Susac’s single brought home Minicozzi. Lollis then attempted to bunt up the remaining runners. The Baysox failed to cover first base on the bunt and Lollis was credited with a bunt-single that loaded the bases. Bowie went to the bullpen for right-hander Zech Zinicola. Brett Krill tied the game with a fielder’s choice bouncer and Juan Ciriaco laced a single into left-center field to pull Richmond ahead, 3-2. Javier Herrera then reached on an error to reload the bases and Joe Panik lifted a sacrifice fly into left field for a 4-2 lead.
Howard (0-1) went from the penthouse to the outhouse, taking a no-hit bid into the fifth inning only to endure the loss. He was charged with four runs – three earned – on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Snodgrass (8-4) worked into the sixth inning to earn his team-leading eighth win of the year. He worked 5 2/3 innings and conceded two runs on three hits. Lefty Josh Osich came on for the final out of the sixth inning. He walked the first two batters of the ninth inning and eventually had the bases loaded with nobody out. However, he buckled down, limiting the Baysox to one run. He earned his first save in the Eastern League.
Game four of the five-game series is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Saturday night at The Diamond. Richmond RHP Taylor Rogers (5-6, 6.08) will make the start against Bowie LHP Jake Pettit (5-3, 4.93). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmupwill begin at 5:35 p.m. on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio.
Share
Chris Graham
