Sports stats



EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Five RBIs Tie Career-High as Richmond Takes Game One

April 23, 2010 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


READING, PA - Thomas Neal belted two home runs and drove in five runs as the Flying Squirrels turned back the Reading Phillies, 5-3, in the opener of a three-game series at FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday night. Neal tied a career-high with the five RBIs, as Richmond won for the seventh time in their last eight games.

A pair of Philadelphia Phillies' right-handers on Major League rehabilitation assignments kept the Flying Squirrels at bay through the first four innings. Joe Blanton made the start and worked through the first three innings. Although he didn't concede a run, Richmond did compile four hits against him including a lead-off double from left-hander Craig Clark in the third inning. Brad Lidge, Philadelphia's closer, worked the fourth, allowing a hit to Skyler Stromsmoe and walking Tyler La Torre, but emerging from the inning unscathed.

Clark matched the big leaguers through three innings, but the R-Phils broke on top when organizational top-prospect Dominic Brown sent a low-flying solo-homer to right field leading off the fourth. Brown's first home run of the season gave Reading a 1-0 advantage.

The Reading lead did not last long following the departure of Lidge. Right-hander Drew Naylor entered and with one out in the fifth, conceded a single to Brandon Crawford. Neal followed and drilled a two-run home run to left-center field on a breaking-ball from Naylor. Neal's first home run at the Double-A level gave the Flying Squirrels their first lead, 2-1.

Clark conceded the game-tying run before departing in the sixth inning with the game knotted, 2-2. Clark did not factor in the decision, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits. Craig Whitaker (1-0) relieved him and finished the sixth inning. He earned the win for Richmond, working just a third of an inning.

With Naylor (1-2) still on the mound in the seventh, the Flying Squirrels grabbed control of the ballgame. Pinch-hitter Clay Timpner and Darren Ford led off the inning with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Neal again. Neal followed with a bullet over the wall in left field, his three-run home run giving Richmond a 5-2 advantage. It marked the third time in his professional career that he had multiple home runs in the same game. Naylor was doomed to his second loss of the season, although he recovered to finish the game on the hill for the R-Phils.

Michael Spidale homered off of Richmond reliever Jake Stevens in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Reading would get no closer than 5-3. Tony Pena Jr. worked a scoreless eighth inning, and Rafael Cova nailed down the win and his fifth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium at 6:05 PM. RHP Mike MacDonald (0-1, 3.00) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Drew Naylor (1-1, 3.09) for Reading.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics



Eastern League Stories from April 23, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central