EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Squirrels Battered By Thunder In Game Three, 17-5

Published on July 30, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Thunder (57-50) scored early and often, handing the Richmond Flying Squirrels (59-48) their most lop-sided loss in franchise history, 17-5, on Saturday night at Waterfront Park. It marked the second time on their current road-trip that the Squirrels had been beaten by more than 10 runs. The first two times in franchise history that has been the case.

Squirrels' left-hander Ryan Verdugo struggled with his command from the outset, issuing four walks in the first inning, and not surviving the frame. The Thunder parlayed those free passes into four runs, taking a 4-0 lead. The inning included an RBI double from Corban Joseph and a two-run single for Yadil Mujica. Verdugo departed after a bases-loaded walk forced in a run, turning in the shortest outing of the season for a Squirrels' starter. However, he didn't factor in the decision.

Richmond rallied back to tie the game in the top of the third inning against Trenton left-hander Shaeffer Hall. Eliezer Zambrano, Skyler Stromsmoe and Francisco Peguero supplied back-to-back singles to load the bases with nobody out. Charlie Culberson followed and sent a two-run single back through the middle to cut the lead in half, 4-2. A batter later, Roger Kieschnick blasted his 13th home run of the season to right-center field to tie the ballgame, 4-4.

The good vibes didn't last long as Trenton reclaimed control of the game in the bottom of the inning. With right-hander Daryl Maday on the mound, the Thunder struck for five runs to take a 9-4 lead. Mujica added another two-run single to his resume for the evening and Addison Maruszak cracked a three-run home run to left-center field. Maday walked two in the inning, running the total to six walks issued by Richmond pitching through three innings. Five of the six walks had come around to score.

Maday (2-10) absorbed his 10th loss of the season, falling over 2 1/3 innings of relief. He conceded five earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out one. Left-hander Wilmin Rodriguez followed Maday and struggled in similar fashion. He worked the fourth inning, allowing another two walks and two runs as the Thunder stretched their lead to 11-4.

Right-hander Edwin Quirarte fared no better, surrendering three runs over the next two innings, bringing the Trenton lead to 14-4. The 14 runs matched the season-high allowed by the Squirrels in game two of their current road-trip. Of the first 14 runs plated by the Thunder, four were scored by Almonte, who finished with four hits in the ballgame. Mujica and Maruszak each drove in four runs, as the bottom three hitters in the lineup drove in 11 runs in the ballgame.

Hall (10-4) settled in and retired the final 10 batters that he faced en route to his 10th victory of the season over seven innings. He allowed four runs on five hits, all in the third inning. He improved to 3-0 against the Squirrels.

Trenton added insult to injury with three runs against Skyler Stromsmoe in the eighth inning. Stromsmoe had started the ballgame as the Richmond left fielder. The three runs added made it the most lop-sided loss in Squirrels' franchise history, surpassing their drubbing in game two of their current road-trip. Richmond capped the scoring with an unearned run against left-hander Brad Halsey in the top of the ninth inning.

The finale of the four-game series is scheduled for 1:05 PM at Waterfront Park on Sunday afternoon. LHP Clayton Tanner (3-8, 4.50) will make the start for the Squirrels against RPH Craig Heyer (8-6, 4.03) for the Thunder. Pregame coverage will begin at 12:35 PM, and can be heard on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.

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Eastern League Stories from July 30, 2011


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