A three-run eighth inning catapulted the Bowie Baysox to a huge 5-3 win over Las Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond in front of 8.059 at The Diamond Friday night.
The Baysox (46-23) opened the scoring via an unearned run in the first inning. Carlos Perez reached on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Ryan Howard, allowing Cedric Mullins to sprint home for the game’s first tally.
Starter Brandon Lawson held the Baysox to no hits through 6 2/3 innings, despite the visitors reaching base on a pair of hit-by-pitches, three errors and four walks. That changed in the seventh inning, when Mullins crushed a solo home run to right field for the team’s first hit, knocking Lawson from the contest.
The fifth long ball of the season for the outfielder sparked the comeback one inning later, when Bowie scored three times in the eighth inning to take a 5-3 lead. A missed catch on a potential grounder to center field put runners on first and second with one out for Jesse Valentin.
The third baseman tied the game with a double past first baseman Gio Brusa to score Yusniel Diaz. Two batters later, Preston Palmeiro grounded a two-out single through the second base hole to score Mason McCoy and Valentin, driving in his 40th and 41st RBI of the season.
Former Richmond (29-40) hurler Tyler Herb tossed a quality start in a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on seven scattered hits over six innings with six strikeouts. Luis Gonzalez earned the win by striking out four batters in 1 2/3 scoreless frames, while Cristian Alvarado struck out Zach Houchins in the 8th inning with the tying runs on base en route to his 13th save of the season.
With the magic number down to one, the Baysox need either a win or an Erie loss at Akron to clinch the 2019 Western Division second half title. RHP Cody Sedlock 1-2, 4.20 ERA) gets the start for Bowie against RHP Sean Hjelle (1-2, 7.08 ERA) at 6:05 p.m.
