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EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Belt Wins Richmond Marathon for Squirrels, 5-3

August 11, 2010 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Flying Squirrels walked off winners on Brandon Belt's two-run home run in the 14th inning that sunk the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-3, in front of 5,608 on Wednesday night at The Diamond.

With two outs and Nick Noonan aboard in the 14th inning, Belt decked a 2-2 offering from New Hampshire right-hander Ronald Uviedo over the wall in right-center field to give the Squirrels the victory. Belt's blast was the first walk-off home run in franchise history for the Squirrels, as they defeated Uviedo in extra-innings for the third time on the year.

Richmond had started quickly against Fisher Cats' righty Rey Gonzalez, plating a pair of runs in the first inning for a 2-0 advantage. Darren Ford led off and chopped a double up the third-base line. Gonzalez struck out Noonan, but he reached when strike three was a wild pitch, and the Squirrels had runners at the corners with nobody out. Thomas Neal grounded out to second base to bring in Ford, and a batter later, Conor Gillaspie laced a single to left field to bring Noonan in.

New Hamsphire sawed the lead in half in the second when Cats' catcher Matt Liuzza connected on a solo-home run to right-center field off of Squirrels' right-hander Mike MacDonald.

The second-inning home run turned out to be the only chink in MacDonald's armor as he worked through six innings. He allowed just the lone run on five hits. He walked two and struck out four, while not factoring in the decision.

Gonazalez also settled in to work six innings, ultimately earning a no-decision. The only damage he incurred was the first inning as he allowed two runs on six total hits. He walked two and struck out three.

The Squirrels acquired some breathing room in the seventh against a pair of New Hampshire relievers. Neal delivered a two-out double off of right-hander Clint Everts and the Cats went to the bullpen for lefty Boomer Potts to face Brandon Belt. Belt cracked an 0-2 pitch for a double to center field to bring in Neal and stretch the Richmond lead to two runs, 3-1.

Rafael Cova came on to try to close out the ballgame for Richmond in the ninth, but wound up blowing his fifth save chance of the season. Scott Bowman led off and blasted a solo-home run to left-center field to cut the Richmond lead to one. Cova then walked Adam Loewen before David Cooper ripped a game-tying double off the wall in right-center field. Cova did recover to force extra-innings by retiring the next three batters.

Following the ninth, Cova retired the next nine batters in succession, but Richmond couldn't rally for the win as Cova called it a night after four innings of relief. Left-hander David Quinowski (1-0) entered in the 13th and earned his first victory at the Double-A level by working two scoreless innings.

The finale of the series is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Thursday night at The Diamond. RHP David Mixon (10-6, 3.63) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Zach Stewart (6-2, 205) for New Hampshire.

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