Squirrels Dig Out Of Hole Only To Fall To Baysox

RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Flying Squirrels (4-3) climbed out of an early hole only to fall late, 7-6, to the Bowie Baysox (3-4) on Wednesday afternoon at The Diamond. The Baysox rallied for two runs and the series win in the ninth inning.

The Baysox came out swinging against left-hander Jack Snodgrass in the first inning. After turning in six no-hit innings in his Double-A debut, Snodgrass was touched for a double on his first pitch of the day by Xavier Avery. After a Snodgrass walk issued to Ty Kelly, Caleb Joseph put Bowie in front with a two-run double to the left-field corner.

Snodgrass recorded the first two outs of the second inning quickly, but fell victim to a two-out uprising. Luis Martinez ignited it with a double to right field. Johnny Ruettiger followed with a single and Snodgrass walked Avery to load the bases. Buck Britton then doubled Bowie's lead with a two-run single to center field and the Baysox advantage stood at 4-0.

Snodgrass didn't last the fourth inning, lifted to an eventual no-decision after 3 1/3 innings. He conceded four earned runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out two.

Bowie left-hander Jake Pettit cruised through five scoreless innings before the Squirrels awoke in the sixth inning. After Pettit started the frame with a walk to Mark Wagner, Ryan Lollis ripped a two-run home run to right field to cut the Bowie lead in half. Ehire Adrianza and Joe Panik followed with back-to-back singles and Pettit walked Javier Herriera before being removed for Tim Bascom. Adam Duvall greeted Bascom with a bases-clearing triple to put the Squirrels in front for the first time, 5-4. Mark Minicozzi then sent a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Duvall for a two-run advantage.

Pettit, who breezed through five innings, was spared the loss after working five innings plus five batters. He was charged with all five runs in the sixth inning, and conceded four hits for the day. He walked two and struck out four on the day.

Right-hander Jose Valdez was outstanding for the Squirrels in relief, turning in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed just a lone run, and that scored in the seventh inning as Bowie drew back within one run.

Richmond turned to its closer in the eighth inning, as right-hander Daryl Maday was summoned. Maday conceded an immediate double to Aaron Baker, but escaped the jam to keep the Squirrels in the lead to the ninth inning. He wasn't as fortunate in the ninth, as Britton led off with a single. Maday then threw wildly to first base and the error allowed Britton all the way to third base. Kelly then cracked an RBI single to tie the game, 6-6. The game-winner was supplied a batter later when Wheeler singled into left field to score Wheeler.

Maday (0-1) took the loss for the Squirrels, also suffering his first blown save of the season. Bowie right-hander Clay Schrader (1-0) earned the win, preceding the ninth-inning rally with a perfect eighth inning. Righty Zech Zinicola then earned the save, turning in a flawless ninth.

The Squirrels will travel to Trenton, NJ, to begin their first road series of the series against the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees) on Thursday night at Arm & Hammer Park. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Squirrels have yet to name a starter for the opener. The Thunder will send RHP Zach Nuding (0-1, 0.00). Pregame coverage begins on SportsRadio 910 and SportsRadio910.com at 6:35 p.m.