EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Offensive Eruption Nets Squirrels Series, 16-8

Published on August 8, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


PORTLAND, ME - The Richmond Flying Squirrels established a new franchise record with 16 runs as they rolled over the Portland Sea Dogs, 16-8, on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The win delivered Richmond the series as they finish a six-game road trip at a record of 4-2, having claimed both series on the trip.

Once again, the Squirrels got started quickly, this time when Darren Ford led off the ballgame with a bunt-single against Portland righty Stephen Fife. Thomas Neal moved Ford to third with a hit-and-run single into right field. Brandon Belt put Richmond on top, 1-0, with a sacrifice fly to right field.

However, Richmond again lost the lead in a hurry. Squirrels' right-hander Craig Westcott walked Che-Hsuan Lin to start the bottom of the first, and he promptly swiped second base. Nate Spears followed and ripped a double on one hop off the wall in right field to tie the game, 1-1. Anthony Rizzo then cracked a single off the wall in right to plate Spears and put Portland in front, 2-1.

The Squirrels erupted in the third and battered Fife for six runs on seven hits to take a 7-2 lead. Ryan Lormand started the record-setting rally with a double up the third-base line. Ford followed with a double to score Lormand and was aboard as Nick Noonan launched a two-run homer to right-center field. Neal then sparked the rally a new with a double. Conor Gillaspie added a double to bring in Neal and then scored when Sharlon Schoop singled. Clay Timpner capped the rally with an RBI single to score Schoop.

Fife remained in the ballgame and was drilled again in the fourth before being lifted. Ford started the onslaught with a first-pitch double and scored when Noonan followed with a double. A batter later, Belt sent another sacrifice fly to center field. Gillaspie doubled again, and Portland finally went to the bullpen. Schoop greeted right-hander Eammon Portice with a two-run double, completing a four-run inning that put Richmond in front, 11-2.

Fife (6-4) was charged with all 11 runs over 3 1/3 innings. All the runs were earned on 13 hits. Fife took the loss, walking none and striking out one.

Richmond wasn't done, as they hung another five runs on the board in the fifth. The inning was highlighted by Schoop sending a three-run home run over the "Maine Monster" in left field. With the home run, Schoop established a new franchise record with 6 RBIs in the ballgame. The Squirrels also eclipsed their previous high of 14 runs in a game as they went up, 16-2.

Anthony Rizzo clubbed a three-run home run off of Westcott in the fifth inning to cut the Richmond lead to 11 runs, 16-5. However, Westcott (3-1) earned his third win over 6 1/3 innings. He conceded five earned runs on five hits, walked three and struck out one.

Portland added a run against reliever David Quinowski in the eighth inning and two more against Mitch Lively in the ninth to cap the scoring in the ballgame. Ford, Neal and Schoop each had four hits in the ballgame for Richmond. Ford scored four times, and Noonan and Neal each came in three times.

The Squirrels are off Monday as they travel back to Richmond to open a three-game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:05 PM on Tuesday night at The Diamond.

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Eastern League Stories from August 8, 2010


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