A four-run seventh inning allowed the Richmond Flying Squirrels (4-1) to complete a large-scale comeback and take the opener of a three-game series, 12-10, from the Bowie Baysox (1-4) on Monday night at The Diamond.
Richmond lefty Ryan Bradley got off to a rocky start in his Double-A debut, conceding five runs – three earned – to the Baysox in the top of the first inning. Bradley’s cause wasn’t helped by two defensive errors behind him, but Bowie did collect five hits in the stanza. That included an RBI single for Zelous Wheeler and a two-run single from Garabez Rosa.
Bowie right-hander Julio Rodriguez allowed the Squirrels right back in the game with an erratic start to his night. He walked the first three batters that he faced in the first inning and brought home the first Richmond run of the ballgame with one of two wild pitches. It looked like Rodriguez may escape the inning allowing just one run, but with two outs, Adam Duvall blasted a three-run home run to left field to make it a 5-4 ballgame. It was the second home run of the year for Duvall.
Things didn’t level off for Bradley in the second as Luis Martinez opened the inning with a single. Xavier Avery followed with a double and the Baysox scored again on a groundout from Kyle Hudson. Ty Kelly’s second single off Bradley made it 7-4 after an inning-and-a-half.
Bradley lasted just two innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs – five earned. He did not issue a walk or register a strikeout.
Rodriguez surrendered two more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Richmond once again pulled within a lone run. Three more walks in the inning set up Jarrett Parker. He laced a two-run double to left field to bring in Joe Panik and Duvall to trim the Bowie lead to a lone run, 7-6. Rodriguez was lifted following the double – the first hit as a Squirrel for Parker.
Rodriguez left after just 2 2/3 innings. He allowed just two hits, but was tagged for six runs – all earned. He walked seven and uncorked three wild pitches. All told, Rodriguez threw 70 pitches, just 24 of which were strikes.
Right-hander Fabio Castillo entered for Bradley in the third and stemmed the tide briefly. He turned in a quick third, but found trouble in the fourth as the Baysox extended their lead to four runs. Martinez opened an inning with a single for the second time and Avery followed with a double. Hudson then singled to bring in Martinez. Ty Kelly bounced out but brought home Avery, and Caleb Joseph capped the inning with an RBI double off the wall in left field.
As Richmond lefty Tom Vessella (1-0) quieted the Baysox, the Squirrels began to pull back into the ballgame once again. Parker belted his first Double-A home run to right-center field to pull the Squirrels within three runs in the sixth inning. Vessella ultimately earned the win for the Squirrels, working three scoreless innings.
The Squirrels then completed the comeback in the seventh inning. Panik contributed an RBI single to get the ball rolling before Duvall added a single. Parker’s third hit of the night, a single, set the table for Andrew Susac. Susac gave Richmond the lead for the first time when he lofted a two-run double into the left-field corner. Bowie left-hander Jason Gurka (0-1) conceded the double and took the loss for Bowie.
Adrianza padded the Richmond lead with a solo-home run in the eighth inning, and right-hander Daryl Maday nailed it down with a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the season.
The Squirrels and Baysox play the middle game of the three-game series on Tuesday night at The Diamond. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. as RHP Craig Westcott (0-0, 0.00) makes the start for the Squirrels against RHP Mike Wright (0-0, 2.25) for the Baysox. Pregame coverage begins on SportsRadio 910 and SportsRadio910.com at 6:05 p.m.
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Chris Graham
