EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Reading Rolls Over Squirrels In Opener, 11-5

Published on June 11, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


READING, PA - The Reading Phillies scored at least one run in each of the first five innings as they trounced the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 11-5, in the opener of a four-game series in front of 8,571 on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Squirrels got right after Reading right-hander Drew Naylor in the first inning, recording three hits and the game's first run. Skyler Stromsmoe got the Squirrels started when he tripled off the right-field wall with one out. A batter later, Thomas Neal singled through the right-side of the infield for a 1-0 Richmond lead.

The lead was short-lived, as Reading grabbed the lead off of Squirrels' right-hander Mike MacDonald in the bottom of the inning. Michael Spidale got Reading going with a double off the top of the wall in left field with one out. MacDonald followed by walking Dominic Brown. The pair moved up a base on a groundout and scored for a 2-1 lead when Matt Rizzotti punched a two-run double down the third-base line.

Things worsened for MacDonald in the second as four hits led to three more Reading runs. Freddy Galvis singled to lead off the inning, but was forced at second by Ozzie Chavez. Naylor laid down a sacrifice bunt and Quintin Berry made it 3-1 with a single to score Chavez. Spidale then singled to put two aboard. After Spidale swiped second base, Brown cranked a single into left field to to score both runners and increase Reading's advantage to 5-1.

The R-Phils tacked on an additional run against MacDonald with three consecutive hits to start the third inning. Rizzotti started the inning with a single and John Suomi doubled to put two on. Freddy Galvis then sent an infield-single to the left-side to plate Rizzotti for a 6-1 lead.

Reading scored for the fourth consecutive inning when MacDonald plunked Berry to start the fourth. He promptly stole second and third base and came in on a sacrifice fly from Brown.

The run scored by Berry marked the end of the line for MacDonald (1-5), who departed after 3 2/3 innings, having conceded a season-high seven earned runs on 10 hits. He lost for the fifth time on the year, and endured his fourth loss to the R-Phils.

Darren Ford launched a two-run homer for the Squirrels off of Naylor in the top of the fifth that pulled Richmond within four runs, 7-3.

However, Reading put the ballgame away with four runs against reliever Craig Whitaker in the bottom of the inning. Whitaker issued four walks in the frame, as the R-Phils plated the four runs with just two hits to take an 11-3 lead.

Ronnie Ray, who entered in relief for Whitaker, cracked a two-run homer off Naylor in the seventh inning to cap the scoring, 11-5. Naylor (5-6) left to the win following the seventh, having allowed five runs on 10 hits.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled at 6:35 PM on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. RHP Felix Romero (0-0, 5.59) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Vance Worley (4-3, 3.93) for Reading.

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Eastern League Stories from June 11, 2010


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