EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Eight Is Enough, R-Phils KO Squirrels in Eleven, 15-7

Published on July 28, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Reading Phillies turned a nail-biting series-finale into a laugher as they rolled up eight runs in the 11th inning and dumped the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 15-7, in front of 5,208 on Wednesday night at The Diamond. The game was the longest in the Squirrels' brief franchise history, contested in four hours and 18 minutes.

In the 11th inning, the Reading Phillies opened the floodgates for eight runs off of Mitch Lively, Michael Main and Skyler Stromsmoe. Lively started the frame on the mound with the game tied, 7-7. He walked pitcher Tyson Brummett and then threw wildly as Freddy Galvis attempted to bunt him to second. Brummett wound up at third on the error as Richmond went back to the bullpen for Main. A batter later, Kevin Nelson delivered a two-run single to make it 9-7. Things unraveled from there for Main, as ultimately he was charged with five runs. Stromsmoe surrendered a three-run home run to Kevin Mahar as Reading added insult to injury. Lively (1-2) was tagged with the loss for Richmond

The Squirrels got out of the gate quickly against Reading right-hander Drew Naylor, striking for three runs in the first inning. Darren Ford got the inning started with a bunt-single, and Thomas Neal moved him to second with a one-out single. Brandon Belt walked and Clay Timpner put the Squirrels out front with a two-run single into center field. Belt scored a batter later on a grounder from Sharlon Schoop and Richmond led, 3-0.

Reading began to climb back against Richmond righty Craig Westcott in the third inning. Cody Overbeck singled with one out and Rich Thompson singled behind him. Harold Garcia put Reading on the board with an RBI single that closed the R-Phils to 3-1.

The R-Phils inched a run closer with a run in the fourth and then overtook the Squirrels and chased Westcott with three more in the fifth. Westcott conceded an inning-opening single to Naylor who was forced at second by Thompson. Four consecutive singles followed, including RBI singles from Timo Perez, Matt Rizzotti and Mahar. Westcott departed following Rizzotti's single in favor of Daniel Turpen, but was charged with all three runs in the inning as Reading went ahead, 5-3.

All told, Westcott was tagged with five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. He didn't factor in the decision, allowing eight hits, walking one and striking out four.

Richmond came racing back in the bottom of the fifth, logging five consecutive hits against Naylor to start the inning. Those hits added up to four runs for the Squirrels as the game see-sawed back in their favor, 7-5. Turpen sparked the rally with a lead-off single and Ford followed with another single. Nick Noonan attempted to bunt the runners over, and instead bunted for a single to load the bases. Naylor uncorked a wild-pitch with Neal at the plate that scored Turpen. Neal then tied the game, 5-5, with a single to the left side of the infield. Belt put the Squirrels back in front when he rifled a two-run triple to the alley in left-center field that scored Noonan and Neal.

Naylor worked through the inning before calling it a night after five innings. He was charged with seven runs, all earned, on nine hits. He walked one and fanned five.

Reading answered back in the sixth against Turpen as Thompson drilled a one-out triple to center field and came in to make it a one-run game when Garcia singled into left field.

Rafael Cova came on to finish the eighth inning. He came back in the ninth and attempted to nail down the win. However, with one out in the inning, Overback crushed a solo-home run to left field to tie the game, 7-7. It was the fourth blown save of the season for Cova and forced extra-innings.

Brummett (1-1) earned the win working the final two innings in the ballgame, including flying out Clay Timpner at 11:27 to end the ballgame. The Squirrels used a franchise-record eight pitchers in the loss.

The Squirrels will open a four-game series with the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) at 7:05 PM on Thursday night at The Diamond. RHP Felix Romero (2-1, 3.67) will make the start for Richmond against LHP Rudy Owens (8-5, 2.92) for Altoona.

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Eastern League Stories from July 28, 2010


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