Chris Dominguez pushed the Richmond Flying Squirrels (2-3) out front early and they held on for a, 5-4, series-opening victory over the Bowie Baysox (1-4) on Monday night at Prince George’s Stadium.
Richmond got on the board first, plating a run in the top of the first inning off of Bowie right-hander Zach Clark. Clark secured the first two outs relatively easily, but walked Tommy Joseph to start the uprising. Wes Hodges followed with a single through the right side of the infield to put two aboard. Chris Dominguez then collected his 6th RBI of the season when he singled back through the middle to bring in Joseph for a 1-0 lead.
The Baysox tied the game without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the third inning. Squirrels’ left-hander Mike Kickham, making his Double-A debut, walked Brandon Waring to start the inning. Travis Adair then sent an attempted sacrifice-bunt back to the mound. Kickham couldn’t handle it cleanly and then compounded the error by throwing it away down the right-field line. The result was runners at second and third with nobody out. L.J. Hoes grounded out to bring in Waring and tie the game, 1-1.
Dominguez wasted no time getting the Squirrels the lead back as he cracked the first pitch from Clark over the left-field wall in the fourth inning for a 2-1 lead. The blast was the first of the year for Dominguez and also the first of the season for the Squirrels. Juan Perez followed the home run with a single, stole second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error. He scored for a 3-1 advantage when Johnny Monell lifted a sacrifice-fly to center field.
Kickham left after 3 2/3 innings due to a pitch count. He was not eligible for a decision, allowing just one hit, walking four and striking out five.
Dominguez was at it again in the sixth inning, lacing an opposite-field double to right field off of Clark with one out. Monell brought him in a batter later with a single into right field. Daniel Mayora followed with a single and Ryan Cavan made it 5-1 Richmond when he cracked a single through the hole on the right-side of the infield. Dominguez added an eighth inning single and finished the ballgame with a career-high tying four hits.
Clark (0-1) was lifted following Cavan’s single in the sixth, doomed to his first loss of the season. He conceded five earned runs on 11 hits, walked one and struck out two.
Squirrels’ right-hander Jake Dunning (1-0) earned his first victory in relief. He came on in the fourth inning and worked without incident into the seventh inning. In the seventh, an Adair single and a walk to Hoes led to his departure in favor of Edwin Quirarte. Manny Machado decked Quirarte’s first pitch to left field for a three-run home run, closing the gap to a lone run, 5-4. However, Quirarte finished the inning, preserving the lead and eventually the first Double-A win for Dunning.
Left-hander Ari Ronick worked a perfect eighth inning in relief, and right-hander Daryl Maday closed the door in the ninth inning. Maday earned a save for the second consecutive ballgame, his second of the season.
The Squirrels and Baysox continue their three-game series with a 7:05 PM scheduled first pitch on Tuesday night at Prince George’s Stadium. RHP Justin Fitzgerald (0-1, 6.75) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Tim Bascom (1-0, 0.00) for Bowie.
2012 Opening Night at The Diamond presented by Erie Insurance is sold out. However, tickets are available for the remaining six games in the Squirrels first home stand of the 2012 season. For more information, call the Squirrels at (804) 359-FUNN (3866) or log on to SquirrelsBaseball.com.
Share
Contributors
