There were no late heroics from the Bowie Baysox (11-16) in the finale of a four-game series, as the Richmond Flying Squirrels (13-14) pulled away to claim a, 6-2, victory on Thursday night at The Diamond. With the win, the Squirrels managed a split in the series and posted a winning home stand (4-3).
The Squirrels took advantage of a costly error from Bowie shortstop Manny Machado to break on top in the second inning. Daniel Mayora started the inning with a double into right-center field off of right-hander Bobby Bundy. Bundy recovered to strike out Chris Dominguez and induce a grounder to Machado from Juan Perez. Machado charged to field the slow-roller and gloved it cleanly. However, his throw on the move was high to first and sailed into the Richmond dugout. Mayora was awarded the plate for a 1-0 lead, while Perez received second base on the error. A batter later, Bundy walked Johnny Monell to put two aboard with two outs. Joel Weeks then cracked a two-run double up the first-base line to stretch the Richmond lead to 3-0.
The Baysox were stymied by Richmond right-hander Craig Westcott across the first four innings. They got on the board with their own unearned run in the fifth when Ehire Adrianza committed a throwing-error on a groundball from Robbie Widlansky that opened the inning. Widlansky swiped second base, and two outs later, Carlos Rojas sent an RBI single into right field.
Bowie got a run closer in the sixth inning when L.J. Hoes singled with one out. Westcott got the second out of the frame, but Machado cracked a double into the left-center field alley to bring in Hoes and pull Bowie within a lone run, 3-2.
Westcott (2-2) departed with the one-run lead after six innings. He conceded two runs – one earned – on six hits. He walked none and struck out three as he earned his second victory of the season.
Bundy (1-5) also left after six innings, doomed to a hard-luck loss. He allowed three runs – all unearned – on just four hits. He walked three and struck out seven, dropping to 1-1 on the year against the Squirrels.
A night after losing an early-lead, the Squirrels learned their lesson and put away the win. Johnny Monell delivered a run-scoring single in the seventh inning and then scored himself on a wild-pitch. Wendell Fairley capped the scoring on the night with an eighth-inning single that plated Dominguez, who had doubled.
The Richmond bullpen was stout following Westcott. Right-hander Austin Fleet had little trouble over two scoreless innings. Lefty Tom Vessella nailed down the victory with a scoreless ninth.
The Squirrels will travel to Altoona, PA, on Friday to open a four-game, three-day series at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The series-opener is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Friday night. Richmond left-hander Jason Stevenson (1-4, 6.92) will make the start opposite Altoona RHP Mike Colla (0-3, 4.01). Pregame coverage will begin on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com at 5:30 PM.
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Chris Graham
