EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Squirrels Fall to 4-16 on the Road

May 27, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


AKRON, OH - The Akron Aeros (23-26) drubbed the Richmond Flying Squirrels (23-24), 9-2, in the opener of a four-game series on Friday night at Canal Park. The loss marked the most lop-sided defeat for Richmond thus far on the year.

Squirrels' left-hander Clayton Tanner struggled in the bottom of the first inning, and the Aeros took advantage for the first lead of the ballgame. Tim Fedroff led off and extended his league-best hit-streak to 20 games with a single back up the middle. Juan Diaz forced Fedroff at first, but Tanner issued back-to-back walks to Jared Goedert and Beau Mills to load the bases with one out. Matt McBride then sent a two-run single through the left-side of the infield for a 2-0 lead.

Richmond responded in the top of the second against Akron left-hander Matt Packer. Packer issued a walk to Roger Kieschnick to start the inning, and Johnny Monell singled behind him. Jose Flores bounced into a double-play, but Kieschnick advanced to third. He scored to cut the Aeros' lead to 2-1 on a Packer wild-pitch.

The wheels came off the wagon for Tanner and the Squirrels in the fourth inning. Tanner had retired nine consecutive Aeros until Chun Chen started a big inning with a single. Kyle Bellows followed with a single and Tanner walked Karexon Sanchez to load the bases. Donnie Webb delivered a two-run single through the left-side of the infield for a 4-1 Akron advantage. Fedroff followed a smoked another two-run single back up the middle for a 6-1 lead. Diaz then drilled a triple to right-center field to chase Fedroff around from first base and Tanner from the ballgame. Left-hander Alex Hinshaw came on in relief and Goedert lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to cap the six-run inning with Akron in front 8-1.

Tanner (1-5) was tagged with his fifth loss of the season in his shortest outing of the year. He lasted 3 1/3 innings, conceding a season-high eight runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Akron added an unearned run against left-hander Wilmin Rodriguez in the sixth inning to run their lead to 9-1. It was the only run allowed by Rodriguez in a solid three-inning relief stint.

Packer (2-5) settled into a groove and won for the second time on the year, lasting seven innings. He allowed only the run in the second inning, while conceding four hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Justin Christian led off the eighth inning with a triple off of reliever Chen-Chang Lee. He scored when Nick Noonan bounced out to cap the scoring in the ballgame. Lee finished the eighth with no further damage done, and right-hander Marty Popham finished the ballgame with a scoreless ninth.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for Saturday night at 7:05 PM. LHP Ryan Verdugo (2-1, 3.07) will make the start for the Flying Squirrels against LHP Kelvin De La Cruz (3-3, 3.54) for the Aeros. The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio 910 AM and SportsRadio910.com.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics



Eastern League Stories from May 27, 2011


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