The Richmond Flying Squirrels won by a final of 1-0 over the Bowie Baysox for the second consecutive night, extending their winning streak to six games on Wednesday. Richmond (10-3) is one victory shy of matching their longest winning streak in franchise history. Jordan Johnson turned in seven shutout innings to earn his second consecutive win. The Squirrels will attempt to sweep the series and homestand in the finale on Thursday morning at 10:35 a.m.
The Flying Squirrels defense stood strong behind Johnson, nabbing three runners at third base in the first three innings. Bowie (6-6) ran themselves out of a potential rally in the second when Aderlin Rodriguez attempted to go first to third on a single into center. Rodriguez was off on the pitch, but cut down by Matt Lipka on a strong throw from center. The Baysox ended the inning on a double play, with Mike Yastrzemski also getting thrown out a third on a 1-3-5 twin killing.
Jordan Johnson was matched by Bowie’s Jordan Kipper, who zipped by the Richmond lineup through the first five innings. The righty yielded four hits over the first five frames, all singles to keep the game scoreless. Kipper needed only 65 pitches to work the first five innings of the game.
Johnson was also efficient with his pitches while moving through the Bowie order in the middle innings. The righty picked things up by retiring the side in the fourth inning and again in the fifth. Johnson had set down ten consecutive batters until Corban Joseph launched a two-out double to right field in the sixth. Johnson carried on and struck out Austin Hays to end the inning.
Luigi Rodriguez snapped the scoreless tie with a solo home run in the sixth. Facing Kipper, Rodriguez sailed a fly ball off the end of his bat over the left field fence for a 1-0 Richmond lead. It was the first home run of the year for Rodriguez and his first as a member of the Flying Squirrels.
With the 1-0 lead intact, Richmond turned to the bullpen to begin the eighth inning. Jordan Jonson (2-1) turned in seven stellar innings and was replaced by Jake McCasland. Johnson did not allow a run on six hits. He walked none and struck out five on 76 pitches to earn the win.
McCasland authored a 1-2-3 eight, setting the table for Tyler Cyr in the ninth. Cyr also set down the Baysox in order to earn his third save of the year.
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Kipper suffered the loss despite the complete game effort. Kipper (1-1) tossed eight innings and allowed the one run on six hits.
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Chris Graham
