Slumbering Squirrels Swept by Baysox, 3-1
May 1, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
BOWIE, MD - The Richmond Flying Squirrels (10-13) lost a lead and a ballgame for the third straight day, falling, 3-1, to the Bowie Baysox (13-10) on Sunday afternoon at Prince George's Stadium. With the loss, Richmond was swept in a three-game series for the second time on the season.
Richmond struck first in the top of the first inning against Bowie right-hander Zach Clark. Nick Noonan extended his hit-streak to 10 games with a one-out single. Justin Christian followed and blistered a double on one hop off the wall in left field. Noonan scurried around from first for a 1-0 Richmond lead.
Squirrels' starter Tom Vessella, working on a pitch count, was lifted in the fourth inning. He worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. He walked four, struck out four and hit a batter. He wasn't eligible for a decision in the ballgame.
Right-hander Edwin Quirarte came on and recorded the final two outs for Vessella in the fourth inning. He then escaped in the fifth, as the Baysox left the bases loaded. Quirarte and the Squirrels weren't as fortunate in the sixth however, as Bowie finally broke through. Saturday's hero, Caleb Joseph, started the Bowie rally with a one-out single. Ronnie Welty added a single to put two aboard and Steve Lerud tied the game with a single into left-center field. Xavier Avery then rocketed a double through the alley in left-center field to score both Welty and Lerud to give the Baysox a 3-1 lead.
Quirarte (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Squirrels, surrendering three runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings of work. He struck out two but lost for the first time on the season. Meanwhile, Clark (3-1) was brilliant after his troubles in the first. He faced just one hitter over the minimum over the next seven innings as he eased through eight innings of work for the win. In the longest outing of his career, the righty allowed just three hits and walked two. He struck out six Squirrels, all looking.
Big-bodied right-hander Jose Diaz finished off the win and the series sweep, working a scoreless ninth inning for his ninth save of the season.
The Squirrels continue their seven-game road trip as they travel to New Britain, CT, to open a four-game series with the New Britain Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium on Monday night at 6:35 PM. Richmond's starter has yet to be determined for the series opener. RHP Deolis Guerra will make the start for New Britain.
Eastern League Stories from May 1, 2011
- Curve Win Back-And-Forth Battle With Erie 6-5 - Altoona Curve
- 'Wolves Drop Soggy Series Finale - Erie SeaWolves
- Baysox Topped the Flying Squirrels 3-1 - Chesapeake Baysox
- Slumbering Squirrels Swept by Baysox, 3-1 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Rock Cats Needed Extra Inning to Subdue Harrisburg - New Britain Rock Cats
- Overbeck Rips Two Bombs, R-Phils Beat 'Dogs 3-2 - Reading Fightin Phils
- Binghamton Drops Rubber Game, 10-1 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Fisher Cats Top Trenton 5-3 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Reading Escapes with 3-2 Victory - Portland Sea Dogs
- Johnson's Shot Not Enough in Sunday Loss - Trenton Thunder
- Chen Powers Aeros to Win in Rubber Match - Akron RubberDucks
- Bowie Baysox Player Move - Chesapeake Baysox
- Erie SeaWolves at Altoona Curve Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Thunder Add Catcher Gil - Trenton Thunder
- Joseph Caps Historic Night - Chesapeake Baysox
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