The Richmond Flying Squirrels (55-39) defeated the Bowie Baysox (49-45), 5-3, on Friday night at Prince George’s Stadium. The Squirrels won despite committing a franchise-record tying five errors. Richmond knocked the Baysox six games back in the division with the win.
Bowie grabbed the lead quickly with a first-inning run off of lefty Ty Blach. Ronald Bermudez drove the first pitch of the night from Blach off the right-center field fence for a double. Two batters later, Dariel Alvarez knocked him in for a 1-0 lead with a single to right-center.
The Baysox tacked on another run in the second inning. Garabez Rosa sparked the inning with a two-out double to the left-field corner. Bermudez followed and flared a double just inside the right-field line. Rosa scored for a 2-0 advantage.
Bowie left-hander Tim Berry had little trouble with the Squirrels through the first four innings, blanking them on just one infield-single. However, a lead-off walk issued to Ricky Oropesa in the fifth would prove costly. Oropesa was forced by Ryan Lollis, who moved to second base on a ground out from Eliezer Zambrano. Skyler Stromsmoe then laced a two-out RBI single to left field to plate Lollis and trim the Bowie lead to a lone run, 2-1.
Richmond caught up in the top of the seventh inning. Devin Harris launched a lead-off double to right-center field that chased Berry from the ballgame. Right-hander Julio DePaula entered and recorded the first two outs of the inning. However, Stromsmoe struck for the second time with a two-out single to center field to pull the Squirrels even, 2-2.
Neither Blach or Berry factored in the decision, each working six innings. Blach was charged with two earned runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out two. Berry surrendered two runs – one earned – on three hits, walked two and struck out six.
The Squirrels literally handed the lead back to the Baysox in the bottom of the seventh inning, committing three errors in the frame. Niuman Romero, who reached on an error, scored the go-ahead run on a play in which the Squirrels were charged with two errors.
However, the Richmond bats picked up the defense in the eighth inning. Kelby Tomlinson, who had committed an error, started the inning with a single off righty Julio DePaula. Mario Lisson followed with a bloop-single to put two aboard. jarrett parker then striped a two-run double through the left-center field alley for a 4-3 lead. Parker later scored on a fielder’s choice bouncer from Ryan Lollis.
Right-hander Edwin Quirarte (5-4) allowed the unearned run in the seventh, but earned the win. DePaula (0-1) took the loss for Bowie. Lefty Josh Osich handled the eighth inning for the Squirrels. Righty Hunter Strickland earned his fourth save, working the ninth.
Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Prince George’s Stadium on Saturday night. Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (8-2, 3.39) will make the start against Bowie RHP Zack Davies (4-5, 4.06). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup begins at 6:05 p.m. on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.
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Chris Graham
