Squirrels Fall in Series Opener, 9-8
Published on June 22, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
RICHMOND, VA - Evan Bigley went 4-for-5 and delivered a two-run double in the top of the ninth to lead the New Britain Rock Cats (37-34) to a 9-8 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels (36-37) in the opener of a four-game series at The Diamond Friday night. The Flying Squirrels committed five errors in the ballgame, which matched a franchise record that was set on May 16, 2010 in a game against the Altoona Curve.
New Britain seized the early lead with a run in the opening frame. Chris Herrmann laced a one-out double into the right field corner off Squirrels starter Justin Fitzgerald. After moving to third on a groundout by Oswaldo Arcia, Herrmann scored on an RBI single from Chris Colabello. Juan Perez threw out Colabello, who attempted to leg out a double, which ended the inning with the Rock Cats holding a 1-0 edge.
The Flying Squirrels immediately answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Gary Brown led off the inning with a single off New Britain starter B. J. Hermsen. Brown promptly swiped his 20th base of the season and he advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Joel Weeks. Daniel Mayora drove in Brown with a sacrifice fly, which knotted the game at 1-1.
The Rock Cats reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. With one out in the inning, Colabello reached on an error by Squirrels shortstop Joel Weeks. Bigley followed with a single, which put runners at first and second. After the runners moved up on a wild pitch from Fitzgerald, Deibinson Romero delivered a two-run single that put New Britain in front 3-1.
New Britain added a run in the top of the sixth when Bigley blasted a solo home run - his ninth of the season - over the left-center field wall.
The Flying Squirrels stormed back with five runs in the last of the sixth. Brown led off the inning and reached on an error by Romero. Weeks ripped a double into the right-center field gap that plated Brown. After Weeks took third on a wild pitch from Hermsen, Mayora delivered his second sac fly of the contest, which brought Richmond within a run. Russ Mitchell followed with a single and he scored two batters later when Mark Minicozzi smacked a two-run home run over the left field fence. Ryan Cavan followed with a solo blast over the right field wall, which extended Richmond's lead to 6-4.
But New Britain refused to go quietly. The Rock Cats struck for three runs in the top of the seventh. Richmond reliever Jake Dunning issued a leadoff walk to James Beresford, who advanced to third on a well-executed hit and run play with Aaron Hicks singling to right field. After Beresford was erased on a fielder's choice, the Rock Cats had runners at second third with one out. Arcia knocked in Hicks with a sacrifice fly. Colabello followed with a ground rule double that scored Herrmann and evened the score at 6-6. Bigley followed with an infield single and a throwing error from Weeks enabled Colabello to race home and put New Britain back in front 7-6.
One inning later, Richmond answered to even the score again. Perez led off the inning with a single and he advanced to second on a fielding error by Hicks. Perez took third on a groundout by Minicozzi and he scored two batters later on Johnny Monell's RBI single off Rock Cats reliever Edgar Ibarra, which made it a 7-7 ballgame through eight innings.
In the top of the ninth, Hermann hit a one-out infield single off Richmond reliever Tom Vessella and advanced to second on a throwing error by Cavan, just the second error of the season by Richmond's second baseman. After an error from Juan Ciriaco put runners at first and third base, Vessella was lifted for Daryl Maday, who struck out Colabello for the second out in the inning. But Bigley ripped a two-run double to left field, which gave New Britain a 9-7 advantage.
Richmond scored a run in the bottom of the ninth when Mayora delivered an RBI single that scored Brown, who had reached on a leadoff walk and stolen second base. But the Flying Squirrels would get no closer as Mayora was left stranded at third base when Daniel Sattler got Perez to pop out for the game's final out.
Sattler (1-0) earned the win for New Britain and Vessella (2-2) was charged with the loss. Richmond's five errors resulted in four unearned runs while a pair of New Britain errors made four of the Flying Squirrels' eight runs unearned. The loss spoiled a big night at the plate for Richmond's Mark Minicozzi, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs and finished a triple short of hitting for the cycle.
The Squirrels will seek to even the series when the two teams meet in game two at The Diamond Saturday night. The Flying Squirrels will send RHP Andy Reichard (1-2, 4.55) to the mound. New Britain is expected to counter with lefty Andrew Albers (3-2, 3.77). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM. Tune to Sports Radio 910 for all the live action, beginning with the Flying Squirrels Pre-Game Warm-Up presented by your local Ford dealers at 6:05 PM. Tickets are available and can be purchased at SquirrelsBaseball.com.
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