The Richmond Flying Squirrels picked up a 3-2, walk-off win over the Bowie Baysox with a game-winning single by Johneswy Fargas in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday at The Diamond in front of a crowd of 6,177 fans to finish the season-opening homestand with a 4-2 record.
With the game tied at two in the bottom of the ninth, Dylan Davis drew a walk to lead off the inning against Tanner Chleborad (Loss, 0-1). After Davis moved to second on a groundout and advanced to third on a flyout, Fargas beat out an infield single to shortstop to allow Davis to score the winning run.
The walk-off win is the second for the Flying Squirrels in the first six games of the season.
Richmond (4-2) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first against left-hander Bruce Zimmermann. After Ryan Howard reached on a fielder’s choice, Jalen Miller pounded a double to left field to bring home the game’s first run and give the Flying Squirrels a 1-0 lead.
Bowie (2-4) tied the game in the third against right-hander Logan Webb, when T.J. Nichting singled and came around to score on a double to deep right-center field from Yusniel Diaz. Webb tossed five innings for the second consecutive start, struck out four and did not issue a walk, allowing just one run.
The Flying Squirrels reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Miller singled with one out—Richmond’s first hit since the first inning—stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error by Bowie catcher Cael Brockmeyer. After Heath Quinn walked to put runners on the corners, Jacob Heyward crushed a double off the center field fence to bring in Miller put Richmond in front 2-1.
The Baysox struck back in the next half-inning, again aided by a Flying Squirrels error. With Preston Palmeiro at second after reaching on a single and advancing on a sacrifice bunt, Ryan McKenna singled to put runners on first and third with two outs. Next, Nichting hit a grounder to shortstop, but Howard’s throw was wide of the first-base bag, allowing Palmeiro to score the tying run.
Kieran Lovegrove (Win, 1-0) kept the game tied by retiring all six batters he faced across two innings of relief, collecting four strikeouts.
Following an off day on Thursday, Richmond hits the road for the first time this season, beginning a three-game set with the Reading Fightin’ Phils on Friday at 7:10 p.m. Left-hander Conner Menez (0-0, 0.00) will start for the Flying Squirrels opposite right-hander Ramon Rosso (1-0, 0.00) for Reading.
The Flying Squirrels return to The Diamond on Wednesday, April 18 to begin a three-game series against the Altoona Curve. First pitch is schedule at 6:35 p.m., and gates open at 5:30. As part of Multi-Cultural Night, performance groups representing countries around the world will perform prior to the game. After the game, In-Your-Face Fireworks will blast off inside The Diamond. Wednesday is also the second Reading Night of the season, where students who complete the “Go Nuts for Reading” program presented by M&T Bank will receive a free General Admission ticket to their school’s designated game and get to participate in a pregame parade beginning at 5:45 p.m.
For tickets or more information, call 804-359-3866 (FUNN), visit SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets or stop by the Flying Squirrels box office.
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Chris Graham
