EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Noonan Helps Squirrels Salvage Series Split

Published on May 5, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - Nick Noonan's second home run of the day helped the Richmond Flying Squirrels salvage the second game of a doubleheader, claiming game two, 7-4, in 10 innings over the New Britain Rock Cats. The Rock Cats, despite Noonan's first home run, claimed the first game, 2-1.

Leading off the 10th inning of game two against left-hander Tyler Robertson, Noonan decked a solo-home run to right-center field for a 5-4 Richmond lead. The Squirrels went on to add an additional two runs on a Mike McBryde single to put away the game two win. Robertson (2-2) was tagged with the loss. Squirrels' left-hander Justin Dowdy (3-0) earned the victory, working all three extra innings.

For the first time on the road trip, the Squirrels failed to score first as the Rock Cats plated game one's first two runs off of lefty Clayton Tanner in the bottom of the third inning. Joe Benson started the rally with a double to center field and came in for the first lead when Chris Parmalee singled back through the middle behind him. Evan Bigley followed and capped the inning with an RBI triple into the right-field corner, giving the Rock Cats a 2-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, Rock Cats' right-hander Steve Hirschfeld was rolling. He allowed just two singles and faced two batters over the minimum over his first five innings as New Britain held its 2-0 lead. However, with one out in the sixth inning, the righty made his first mistake. Noonan jumped on it, and hammered a solo-home run to right field to trim the Squirrels deficit to a lone run, 2-1.

Tanner (0-3) recovered to work six solid innings, allowing just the two runs in the third inning. He conceded six total hits, walked three and struck out six. However, he remained winless on the season, enduring his third defeat.

Hirschfeld (2-0) earned the win over six innings, allowing just the lone run on three hits. He walked none and struck out one. Right-hander Cole Devries earned his second save of the series and sixth of the season as he worked a scoreless seventh.

Pitching dominated the first three innings of game two, as Ryan Verdugo and Liam Hendriks traded scoreless innings. However, the Rock Cats broke through against Verdugo first, plating two runs and forcing the lefty from the ballgame in the fourth inning. Bigley got the Rock Cats started with a lead-off double and Yangervis Solarte bunted him to third base. Verdugo then walked Deibinson Romero, the first of three walks in the inning. Following the walk to Romero, Chris Herrmann put New Britain on top with an RBI single. Verdugo issued two more walks, the second forcing in a second run. The 24-year-old was lifted to a no-decision, and right-hander Dan Otero came on in relief to avoid further damage.

Hendriks finally blinked in the fifth, and the Squirrels tied the game, 2-2, with a two-out rally. Hendriks walked Joel Weeks, and Justin Christian followed with a single. Noonan then supplied a two-run double up the right-field line to tie the game.

Facing former Squirrel Jake Stevens in the seventh, the Squirrels put together what appeared to be a game-winning rally. They scored two runs, the uprising sparked when Stevens hit mike McBryde, leading off the inning. Jose Flores and Charlie Culberson supplied RBI singles as the Squirrels went in front, 4-2.

However, Richmond closer Jason Stoffel encountered quick trouble in the bottom of the inning, walking Benson to start the frame. Two batters later, Solarte singled to keep the New Britain hopes alive, bringing home a third run. Romero then knotted the game, 4-4, with a double high off the wall in right field. Stoffel was tagged with his third consecutive blown save.

The Squirrels will return to Richmond to open a three-game series with the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) at 7:05 PM on Friday night at The Diamond. RHP David Mixon (0-0, 0.00) will make the start for Richmond against LHP Jeff Locke (1-3, 3.71) for the Curve.

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Eastern League Stories from May 5, 2011


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