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EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Takes Opener in Reading

May 20, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA - Flying Squirrels' closer Jason Stoffel escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth inning as Richmond (19-21) escaped with a, 4-3, victory over the Reading Phillies (23-17) on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Leading by a lone run into the bottom of the ninth inning, Stoffel conceded a first-pitch single to Michael Spidale leading off the inning. Freddy Galvis followed and laid down a sacrifice-bunt. Stoffel threw wildly to first base, with the runners winding up at second and third base with nobody out. Stoffel then donned a magician's cape and fanned Stephen Susdorf for the first out. Richmond opted to intentionally walk Matt Rizzotti, looking for a double-play ball from Cody Overbeck. Overbeck provided one, grounding sharply to third base. The Squirrels turned the double-play 5-4-3 to escape with the win.

Squirrels' right-hander Justin Fitzgerald created an opporunity for Reading in the first inning when he hit Matt Miller with a pitch and followed with a walk to Matt Rizzotti. A batter later, Carlos Rivero delivered an RBI double to left-center field to give the R-Phils a 1-0 lead.

The Richmond response was immediate as Roger Kieschnick led off the second and blasted his first home run to right-center field off of Reading starting B.J. Rosenberg. The solo-shot knotted the game, 1-1.

On a limited pitch count, Rosenberg worked four innings. Kieschnick's blast was the only damage done against him as he retired the final eight batters he faced before leaving to a no-decision.

Tyson Brummett entered in relief following Rosenberg, and ran into trouble in the sixth inning. With one out, Charlie Culberson ripped a double up the left-field line. Ryan Lormand followed and stung an RBI single to left field, bringing in Culberson for a 2-1 lead. After Nick Noonan walked, Kieschnick again supplied the big blow in the inning, launching a two-run triple off the top of the wall in right field for a 4-1 advantage. Brummett (2-2) was saddled with the loss for Reading.

Reading began to creep back into the game in the seventh inning. With Fitzgerald still in the ballgame, Paco Figueroa and pinch-hitter Spidale each singled to put two aboard with one out. Fitzgerald was lifted in favor of left-hander Alex Hinshaw, who promptly struck out Freddy Galvis. He then induced a ground ball to Noonan that the shortstop misplayed to allow Figueroa to score.

In his longest outing of the season, Fitzgerald (3-3) earned his third win of the season over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs - one earned - on five hits. The righty walked four and struck out three.

The R-Phils trimmed the lead to a lone run in the eighth inning with a run off of Hinshaw. Tuffy Gosewisch drove home Cody Overbeck with a double to the right-field corner.

The second game of the series is scheduled for 6:05 PM on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. RHP Daryl Maday (1-2, 3.77) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Josh Zeid (1-3, 6.28) for the R-Phils.

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