RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, dominated the Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, with a decisive 10-0 shutout on Friday night at The Diamond. The Squirrels’ potent offense and strong pitching overwhelmed the Baysox, who struggled to generate any momentum.
The Flying Squirrels (3-10) wasted no time, jumping to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Chesapeake’s starting right-hander Trace Bright (1-2). Jairo Pomares opened the scoring with an RBI double, followed by two consecutive wild pitches from Bright that allowed additional runs. Adrián Sugastey capped the inning with an RBI single, giving Richmond an early advantage. Bright pitched four innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out two.
Richmond extended its lead in the fifth inning with three more runs. Victor Bericoto delivered an RBI single, Sugastey added an RBI groundout, and Justin Wishkoski contributed an RBI single, pushing the score to 7-0. The Squirrels sealed the game in the seventh with two sacrifice flies from Aeverson Arteaga and Rodolfo Nolasco, followed by a solo home run from Bericoto, finalizing the score at 10-0.
On the mound, Richmond’s starting right-hander Manuel Mercedes (1-2) delivered a stellar performance, earning his first Double-A win. Mercedes pitched 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out three. He was particularly dominant during a stretch where he retired 13 consecutive Baysox batters. Nick Sinacola closed out the game, throwing 3.1 shutout innings with three strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
The Chesapeake Baysox (8-5) managed only five hits and failed to advance a runner to third base. Outfielder Douglas Hodo III provided a lone bright spot, extending his team-leading on-base streak to 10 games with a second-inning single, tying for the fourth-longest streak in the Eastern League.
The game highlighted Richmond’s offensive depth, with multiple players contributing key hits and timely scoring. Bericoto’s home run marked his first of the season, while Sugastey’s consistent production added to his growing reputation as a reliable run producer.
For Chesapeake, the loss marked a rare offensive struggle in an otherwise strong start to the season. The Baysox entered the series with a potent lineup, averaging over five runs per game. However, Richmond’s pitching stifled their bats, exposing vulnerabilities against disciplined arms like Mercedes.
The Baysox will look to rebound in the next game of their six-game road trip against Richmond on Saturday. Right-hander Pat Reilly is slated to start for Chesapeake, facing off against Richmond’s left-hander Jack Choate. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at The Diamond. Fans can follow live updates via the Eastern League’s official site.
Friday’s game underscored the unpredictable nature of Double-A baseball, where emerging prospects like Mercedes and Bericoto can shift the trajectory of a team’s season. For Richmond, the win provided a much-needed boost to a squad looking to climb out of an early-season slump. Chesapeake, meanwhile, will aim to regroup and reclaim their offensive form as the series continues.
