EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Disastrous Fifth Dooms Squirrels as Skid Hits Four

Published on May 19, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Erie SeaWolves rode a six-run fifth inning and three home runs to a, 9-4, victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in front of 6,370 at The Diamond on Wednesday night. The loss extended Richmond's losing streak to four games, as Erie moved into first place in the Western Division.

The SeaWolves got off to a quick start against right-hander David Mixon in the first inning. Justin Henry led off the ballgame and slapped a single the opposite way. With Henry aboard, Andy Dirks lifted a two-run home run off the right-field foul-pole to give Erie a 2-0 lead.

SeaWolves' left-hander Duane Below worked without incident through the first three innings, but the Squirrels got to him to tie the game in the fourth. Conor Gillaspie led off the inning with a single and was pushed to third when Juan Ciriaco doubled behind him. Below then issued back-to-back walks to Clay Timpner and Jackson Williams, the latter pushing home Gillaspie with Richmond's first run of the night. Nick Noonan followed and tied the game, 2-2, with a deep sacrifice fly to right-center field. Timpner was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second to end the threat.

Due to a pitch-count, Below departed after the fourth inning having allowed a pair of runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out two, recording a no-decision.

A nightmarish fifth followed for the Squirrels, as Erie forged back ahead. Shawn Roof singled off Mixon to start the inning and Henry followed with his second single of the ballgame to put two aboard. Dirks then drilled a two-run double that crashed off the wall in right field, giving the lead back to Erie, 4-2. With the floodgates open, Wilkin Ramirez followed with a two-run blast to left field opening up the ballgame at 6-2.

Mixon (4-2) left on the Ramirez's home run, charged with the loss over four innings. Mixon surrendered six earned runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three.

Right-hander Felix Romero entered in relief with nobody out in the fifth, and the SeaWolves picked up where they left off. Cesar Nicolas greeted him with a solo-home run belted to center field for a 7-2 lead. Michael Bertram made it six consecutive hits to open the inning when he single to follow the home run. A throwing error on Noonan would eventually allow Bertram to score the sixth run of the inning for Erie, pushing the SeaWolves ahead, 8-2. The six runs and seven hits surrendered in the inning were both franchise records for Richmond pitching.

Richmond jumped on the comeback trail immediately in the bottom of the fifth inning as Erie went to the bullpen for left-hander Jay Voss. He walked Darren Ford leading off the inning, and conceded a single to Brandon Crawford behind him. Thomas Neal sent what looked like a double-play ball to second base, but Henry misplayed it, his error loading the bases with nobody out. Gillaspie followed with an RBI single and Ciriaco lined a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the Erie lead to 8-4.

Anthony Shawler (1-0) restored order the SeaWolves out of the bullpen, as the right-hander worked three scoreless innings for the victory.

Erie capped the scoring with a run off reliever Andy Sisco in the eighth inning. Erie matched the most runs allowed in a single game by the Squirrels' staff, and eclipsed the 15 hits they recorded on Tuesday night with 16 to establish a new high in game two.

The final game of the three-game series is scheduled for 10:35 am on Thursday morning at The Diamond. LHP Craig Clark (2-2, 4.05) will look to salvage the finale for Richmond against RHP Thad Weber (2-3, 4.85) for Erie.

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Eastern League Stories from May 19, 2010


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