Rock Cats Turn Back Squirrels in Opener, 8-5
Published on August 17, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
RICHMOND, VA - The New Britain Rock Cats led throughout an eventual, 8-5, victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in front of 5,478 on Tuesday night at New Britain Stadium. The win halted a six-game slide for the Cats as they defeated the Squirrels for just the second time in the 10th meeting between the two clubs.
The Rock Cats got off to a fast start against Squirrels' right-hander Daryl Maday in the first inning. Maday rolled a double play to record the first two outs in the inning, but Chris Parmalee followed with a two-out single. Juan Portes rifled an RBI double on one hop off the wall in center field to plate Parmalee for a 1-0 lead. The inning ended when Steve Singleton singled into right field and Portes was thrown out at the plate by Clay Timpner.
The Rock Cats picked up right where they left off in the second, as Jair Fernandez led off the inning with a single and Estarlin de los Santos doubled behind him into the alley in right-center field. With two aboard, Mark Dolenc lined a three-run home run down the left-field line for a 4-0 New Britain lead. The Rock Cats posted eight hits through the first two innings against Maday.
New Britain lefty Tyler Robertson held the Squirrels in check the first time through the order, but Richmond finally broke through in the fourth. Robertson walked Darren Ford to start the inning and Nick Noonan doubled him in with Richmond's first run. Robertson walked Neal to put two aboard and advanced the runners with a wild pitch. Robertson recorded the first two outs of the inning, but Sharlon Schoop delivered a two-out two-run double to right-center field to pull Richmond back within a run, 4-3.
Maday found trouble again in the bottom of the fourth as the Rock Cats added two runs back to their lead and forced him from the ballgame. de los Santos led off the inning with a bunt-single and a batter later, Maday walked Chris Cates. A groundout moved the two runners up and Evan Bigley delivered a two-out single to plate both runners for a 6-3 lead.
Maday (9-7) departed on the Bigley single, having conceded six earned runs on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out two in his second start since returning from Triple-A Fresno. He was saddled with his seventh loss of the season for the Squirrels.
Richmond got another run back against Robertson in the fifth, when Robertson walked Tyler La Torre. Two batters later, Ford tripled off the wall in right-center field to cut the lead to 6-4.
Robertson (3-11) allowed one more run before calling it a night in the sixth inning. He left with runners on the corners after 5 1/3 innings. One of those runners scored to trim the New Britain advantage to 6-5 upon the entrance of reliever Steve Hirschfeld. He earned his third victory of the season, and first since July 15th.
Robertson allowed five earned runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
New Britain iced the win with a pair of runs charged to left-hander Andy Sisco in the seventh inning. Parmalee led off with a single and Sisco walked Portes to put two aboard. Singleton attempted to bunt the runners over, but bunted for a hit instead to load the bases with nobody out. Sisco left, and two of the runners scored with Ronnie Ray on in relief for an 8-5 New Britain lead.
The Rock Cats' bullpen was solid in relief. Right-hander Steve Hirschfeld worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings before fellow righty Billy Bullock nailed down the win with two perfect innings for his ninth save of the season.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Wednesday night at New Britain Stadium. RHP Mike MacDonald (4-7, 4.14) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Chris Province (5-5, 5.22) for New Britain.
Eastern League Stories from August 17, 2010
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