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Richmond Flying Squirrels

Surkamp Suppresses Sea Dogs as Squirrels Secure Series, 7-2

June 9, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


PORTLAND, ME - The Richmond Flying Squirrels (29-30) got plenty of offense and rode six strong innings from left-hander Eric Surkamp to a, 7-2, victory over the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field on Thursday night. The win earned the Squirrels the series victory, taking two of three games in the series.

The Squirrels got on the bats quickly, recording three consecutive two-out singles in the first inning against Portland right-hander Alex Wilson. Johnny Monell collected the first hit, a single back up the middle. Roger Kieschnick also singled through the middle, and Drew Biery put Richmond in front, 1-0, with a single pulled into left field.

The lead was short-lived as Portland also got right after Surkamp. Jeremy Hazelbaker led off the first inning with a single against Surkamp, the first of three consecutive singles. Alex Hassan followed with a single, and Ryan Lavarnway tied the ballgame, 1-1, with a single served into right field.

Wildness would cost Wilson and the Sea Dogs in the third inning, as the righty walked Justin Christian to start the frame. Christian promptly stole second base. As a wild-pitch skittered away from Lavarnway, Christian scampered all the way in from second base, carrying the lead back to the Squirrels, 2-1. Wilson also walked the second hitter in the inning, Charlie Culberson. Culberson also swiped second base. Monell's second hit of the night was an RBI single, plating Culberson for a 3-1 advantage. Monell took second on a throw home, and advanced to third on a fly out from Kieschnick. Drew Biery sent a sacrifice-fly to left field to cap the scoring in the inning, bringing in Monell to put Richmond in front, 4-1.

Wilson (5-4) departed to the loss after five innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out two as he endured his fourth loss of the season.

Richmond widened the gap in the sixth inning, plating two more runs off of reliever Jeremy Kehrt. Nick Noonan started the Squirrels with a one-out single. Sharlon Schoop then lined a double over the head of Hazelbaker in center field. Noonan scored from first on the play, and Schoop took third when the relay throw home was errant. Manager Dave Machemer then called for the suicide-squeeze, which was laid down perfectly by Aaron Lowenstein. Schoop sprinted in for a 6-1 lead.

Surkamp (4-3) was tremendous following his troubles in the first inning. He retired 16 of the next 17 batters that he faced, and conceded just two more hits to the Sea Dogs over the following five innings. Ultimately, the lefty earned his fourth win of the season over six innings. He allowed just a lone run on five total hits, walked one and struck out six.

For the second consecutive night, Culberson supplied the exclamation point to the victory. He homered for a second straight game, leading off the seventh inning with a solo-shot to left-center field.

The bullpen flourished once again following Surkamp's exit. Left-hander David Quinowski worked two scoreless innings, while right-hander Jason Stoffel mopped up the win in the ninth. The Sea Dogs did cap the scoring in the ballgame with a later run against Stoffel.

The Squirrels six-game road-trip continues on Friday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, NH, where Richmond will meet the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the opener of a three-game series at 7:05 PM. RHP Justin Fitzgerald (4-3, 2.93) will make the start for the Squirrels against RHP Henderson Valdez (2-1, 3.22) for the Fisher Cats. Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:35 PM on Sports Radio 910 AM and SportsRadio910.com.

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