Walk-off wild pitch on intentional walk dooms Squirrels

The Flying Squirrels (36-54) suffered a difficult 4-3 defeat in the series opener against the Baysox on Thursday night at Prince George’s Stadium.

With the game tied, 3-3 in the ninth, Rodolfo Martinez – attempting to intentionally walk Chance Sisco – lofted the ball over the head of catcher Jeff Arnold to score the winning run from third base. Squirrels All-Star infielder Christian Arroyo smacked four hits, including a pair of doubles in the defeat.

Kyle Crick pitched well, but received a no-decision in the outing. Crick allowed a pair of runs over 5 1/3 innings in his 15^th start of the season.

Richmond’s offense picked up where they left off prior to the All-Star Break on Thursday in Bowie. Christian Arroyo delivered his 26th double of the season in the first inning and C.J. Hinojosa brought him home with another double to take a 1-0 lead. Arroyo added his league-leading 27th double later on in the seventh, capping a four-hit performance.

Starting pitcher Kyle Crick got the nod out of the break for the Squirrels and worked through 5 1/3 innings in the no-decision. Crick walked the first batter in the first inning but retired the next three to strand the runner. Bowie then pushed ahead against Crick in the second, starting with a two-out single. Drew Dosch then stepped to the plate and drilled a two-run homer over the right field wall. It was the fifth homer of the season for Dosch and gave Bowie a 2-1 advantage.

Richmond battled back in the fifth inning against Bowie starting pitcher John Means. Darren Ford ignited the offense with a double and scored on a base hit from Christian Arroyo to tie the game, 2-2. Hinojosa added another base hit and Hunter Cole pulled the Squirrels ahead, 3-2, with an RBI single to left. Means was wavering but finished the inning, his final of the day. The lefty hurled five innings and allowed three runs on 10 hits in the no-decision.

Crick navigated the middle innings for Richmond and set down the side in order in the fourth. The righty worked around a two-out single in the fifth and took the 3-2 lead into the sixth. Crick struck out the first batter in the sixth inning, then walked the next hitter to end his outing. Reliever Preston Claiborne took over andpicked up a pair of quick outs to end the inning. Crick lasted 5 1/3 and allowed just the two runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked six.

Claiborne returned for the seventh inning and walked the first batter Adrian Marin. Julio Borbon advanced Marin to second base with a sacrifice bunt, and Claiborne then whiffed the next hitter for the second out. The Squirrels opted to play the lefty-lefty matchup by bringing in Christian Jones to face Chance Sisco. Sisco worked awalk and Joey Terdoslavich tied the game with a base hit to left.

Despite the Squirrels 12 hits in the contest, the offense struggled to score against the Baysox bullpen. Michael Zouzalik pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Bowie and Bobby Bundy struck out the side in the eight. Richmond loaded the bases against Jimmy Yacabonis in the ninth, however Hunter Cole flew out to deep left field to keep the game tied, 3-3.

The Squirrels summoned closer Rodolfo Martinez to pitch the ninth inning in an attempt to send thegame to extras. Martinez (0-1) promptly relinquished a lead off base hit toJulio Borbon. Garabez Rosa then executed a hit and run, moving Borbon to third with no one out. That set up the intentional walk attempt that ended the game.