Working his way back from a shoulder injury, San Francisco Giants hurler Jeff Samardzija dropped into Bowie for a rehab appearance with Richmond. The former MLB All-Star tossed four scoreless innings to lead the Flying Squirrels (60-66) in a 3-1 win over the Baysox (60-66) on Wednesday evening at Prince George’s Stadium. Samardzija became the sixth Giants player to rehab with the Flying Squirrels and tossed four scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Flying Squirrels continue final road trip of the season on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ). Richmond will return to Funnville for the last homestand of the year starting on Monday, August 27. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN
The Richmond bullpen trio of Carlos Diaz (W, 2.2IP, 2H, R, 2K), Dillon McNamara (HD, 1.1IP, H,2K) and Sam Wolff (S, IP, H, K) finished the contest for Samardzija. Wolff shut the door in the ninth to record his fourth save in four opportunities this season.
The Flying Squirrels were shutout at The Diamond on Tuesday and limited in the first two innings on Wednesday at Prince George’s Stadium. The squad snapped their scoreless stretch of 15 innings by plating three runs in the third inning. Bowie starter Dillon Tate picked up three strikeouts over the first two innings before he encountered trouble in the third. Jeff Arnold recorded the first hit for Richmond to begin the third – an infield single to deep short. Ronnie Jebavy then reached when he was hit by a pitch, leading to an opposite field RBI single for Luigi Rodriguez. Caleb Gindl made it a 3-0 lead on an infield single to the right side.
Samardzija worked a 1-2-3 first inning and retired the side on nine pitches. The former MLB All-Star dodged an error and a hit batter in the second. He walked Corban Joseph in the third and allowed a base hit to Yusniel Diaz in the fourth. Samardzija struck out Austin Hays to end the inning and his outing. Overall, the righty worked four innings and allowed just one hit. He walked one, struck out one and hit one while using 53 pitches in the effort.
Carlos Diaz took over for Samardzija in the fifth and lasted 2.2 innings to earn the win. However, Bowie did strike for their only run of the gam off Diaz in the sixth. With one out, Corban Joseph ripped a single into right field. Diaz then struck out the next batter Ryan Mountcastle, but a wild pitch to end the at bat advanced Joseph to second. Pinch-hitter Rylan Bannon (entered to replace injured Aderlin Rodriguez) then roped a double down the left field line, scoring Joseph for a 3-1 contest. Diaz stranded Bannon and worked into the seventh inning with two outs.
Dillon McNamara relived Diaz with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh. The All-Star McNamara finished the frame on a line out and worked a scoreless eighth, earning a hold. Sam Wolff nailed down the save by limiting Bowie to one hit in the ninth. It was Wolff’s fourth save in as many opportunities.
The Baysox Tate (6-5) suffered the loss despite turning in a quality start. The righty worked six innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out six in the defeat.
The Flying Squirrels continue final road trip of the season on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. The brief two-game set wraps with RHP Logan Webb (1-0, 2.35) making the start for Richmond. Bowie will counter Webb with LHP Bruce Zimmermann (1-1, 1.80). The Baysox will counter with RHP Dillon Tate (6-4, 4.19). Richmond will return to Funnville for the last homestand of the year starting on Monday, August 27. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN