EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Sprints Past Reading with Two-Runs in Eighth

Published on June 4, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Flying Squirrels (26-29) rewarded a patient crowd of 8,695 with a late rally to slip past the Reading Phillies (29-26), 3-2, on Saturday night at The Diamond. The victory allowed the Squirrels to pull even in the three-game series.

Trailing 2-1 into the bottom of the eighth, the Squirrels struck for a pair of unearned runs off of Reading reliever Phillipe Aumont. Aumont got the first two outs of the inning before Justin Christian blistered a one-hopper to the right of first baseman Matt Rizzotti. Rizzotti made a sensational diving stop of the ball, but his flip was dropped by Aumont to allow Christian to reach. The error turned out to be the difference in the ballgame. Christian took second base on a wild-pitch, and scored to tie the game, 2-2, when Roger Kieschnick singled into center field. Drew Biery then supplied the game-winner, singling the other way into right field to plate Kieschnick for a 3-2 lead. Aumont (0-5) was tagged with the loss for Reading.

The Squirrels got out to a quick start as Charlie Culberson led off the first inning with a double into the left-field corner against Reading lefty Ryan Edell. Culberson moved to third on a ground out from Jose Flores and scored for a 1-0 Richmond lead when Justin Christian grounded out.

Richmond starter Justin Fitzgerald fired three scoreless innings, but the R-Phils put together a two-out rally to tie the game in the fourth. Carlos Rivero signaled trouble with a double. He came in to even the ballgame, 1-1, on an RBI single from Steven Susdorf.

The R-Phils went ahead in the seventh when Fitzgerald conceded his first home run of the season, a solo-shot to Derrick Mitchell. Mitchell's fifth blast of the ballgame put Reading in front, 2-1. Fitzgerald turned in a quality start and departed to a no-decision after seven innings. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two.

The Squirrels' late rally denied Edell a victory. He left after six innings, having conceded just the lone run in the first on five hits. He walked none and struck out four. Chris Kissock worked a scoreless seventh before the Aumont's trouble in the eighth.

Right-hander Osiris Matos (3-4) earned the win in relief for the Squirrels, working a perfect eighth inning for his third victory of the season. Right-hander Dan Otero earned his first save of the season, retiring the side in order in the ninth, including a game-ending strikeout of Susdorf.

The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 2:05 PM at The Diamond on Sunday afternoon. RHP Daryl Maday (1-4, 3.83) will make the start for the Squirrels against RHP B.J. Rosenberg (1-1, 2.08). For tickets or more information, please visit SquirrelsBaseball.com.

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Eastern League Stories from June 4, 2011


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