Ronnie Jebavy careened a two-run, walk-off single that bounced off the second base bag, sending the Flying Squirrels (26-23) to a 7-6 win over the Bowie Baysox (24-27) on Thursday night at The Diamond. Jebavy’s base hit scored Dillon Dobson from third and Dylan Davis from second base to end the game. Richmond and Bowie split the abbreviated two game series and homestand.
Trailing 6-5 entering the ninth inning, Jerry Sands started the rally with a base hit into right field. Dylan Davis followed with a walk, leading to the Squirrels using Dobson as a pinch-runner at second for Sands. The Baysox then went back into the bullpen and brought in Tanner Chleborad. The righty Chelborad recorded a ground out and strike out, setting up Jebavy’s game-winner.
Bowie battled back from a 5-2 deficit and moved ahead with a run in the top of the ninth inning. Caleb Simpson (2-1) entered with the game tied and loaded the bases on a hit, walk and hit batter. Aderlin Rodriguez snapped a 5-5 tie on a groundball back to the mound. Simpson opted to throw the ball to first base for the out, allowing the runner from third to score, making it 6-5. Simpson escaped without any more damage and earned the win.
Bowie left-hander Brian Gonzalez worked around multiple base runners in the first three innings on Thursday. The Flying Squirrels stranded a pair of runners in the first, one more in the second and three in the third before breaking through for the game’s first run in the fourth inning. Jeff Arnold walked to open the inning and was able to advance to second when Ronnie Jebavy struck out on a wild pitch. Tyler Brown then singled and Ali Castillo slapped a base hit into right field for a 1-0 Richmond lead. Gonzalez worked out of the inning with just the one run and was at 67 pitches through four innings.
Richmond right-hander Jordan Johnson was also sharp in the early going for the Flying Squirrels. Johnson needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in the first and 12 to do so in the second. Johnson walked Aderlin Rodriguez to begin the third, however, he used his barehand on a comebacker to start a double play.
Johnson lost his command in the fourth and walked the first batter of the inning in Audry Perez. With one-out, Johnson fell behind in the count to Erick Salcedo – who then tied the game – with a double out to right field. Salcedo’s double made it a 1—1 contest, however, he was thrown out on the play after attempting to round second base with the lead runner stopped on third.
Bowie grabbed a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Anthony Santander roped a double into right field with one out, and scored on a sharp base-hit from Ademar Rifaela. The Rifaela’s single moved Willie Harris to bring in reliever Will LaMarche, who finished out the inning by stranding Johnson’s inherited runner at third.
Both Johnson and Gonzalez received no-decisions in their starts. Johnson worked 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out two, using 80 pitches in the effort. Gonzalez left with the lead after tossing five innings in his third start at Double-A. Gonzalez allowed one run on five hits. He punched out six and walked three.
A combination of speed and power put the Squirrels back in front in the bottom of the sixth inning. Facing reliever Michael Kelley, Ronnie Jebavy worked a walk to begin the inning and Tyler Brown was hit by a pitch. The duo executed a double steal and pinch-hitter Luigi Rodriguez tied the game, 2-2, on a swinging bunt up the first base line. A wild pitch moved Richmond ahead 3-2, and Jerry Sands drilled a two-run double, completing the four-run attack.
The Flying Squirrels embark on a seven-game road trip to Reading, PA and Trenton, NJ beginning Friday. Richmond LHP Garrett Williams (1-4, 6.69) will make the start against Reading RHP Jose Tavares (0-1, 2.16). Richmond will be back in Funnville on June 9-14. Promotional details and tickets can be found here.
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