EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Squirrels Hold off Aeros in Opener, 4-3

August 25, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


AKRON, OH - The Richmond Flying Squirrels (70-61) collected a hard-fought and much-needed victory, 4-3, over the Akron Aeros (66-65) on Thursday night at Canal Park.

After three scoreless innings, the Squirrels finally struck first in the fourth inning against Akron right-hander Brett Brach. Skyler Stromsmoe drew a walk to start the inning, and Francisco Peguero lashed a single through the hole on the right-side of the infield. Chris Dominguez singled into left field to load the bases with nobody down. Roger Kieschnick bounced into a fielder's choice, but Wes Hodges followed with a sacrifice-fly to right field that plated Peguero for a 1-0 lead.

Akron quickly caught up, plating their first run against Richmond left-hander Chuck Lofgren in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Lofgren hit Kyle Bellows. Raul Padron followed with a single into right field, moving Bellows to third base with one out. Donnie Webb grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Bellows to score to tie the game, 1-1.

Lofgren (3-1) departed after five innings, having conceded just a lone run. He earned the win in his return to Canal Park, conceding just three hits - all singles. He walked four, hit another, but stranded eight runners on base during his five innings on the hill.

The Squirrels reclaimed the lead and knocked Brach out of the ballgame in the top of the sixth inning. Peguero opened the inning with a bunt-single, and a batter later, Sanchez committed an error on a groundball from Kieschnick. Hodges walked to load the bases with one out, and Johnny Monell ripped a two-run double off the wall in center field to put Richmond in front for good, 3-1. The double was the knock-out blow for Brach, as he left after 5 1/3 innings. Juan Perez made it 4-1 when he lifted a sacrifice-fly to left field off of Brach's replacement Bryan Price.

Brach took the loss over his 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs - two earned - on seven hits. He walked three and struck out four.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Stromsmoe committed an error that allowed the Aeros to shave a run off the Richmond lead. Cristo Arnal led off with a groundball to Stromsmoe, which he threw over the head of Hodges at first base. The ball wound up in the Richmond dugout, and Arnal was awarded second base. He scored on back-to-back groundouts from Chun Chen and Ben Copeland to trim the Richmond lead to 4-2.

The Aeros continued to chip away with another run off of left-hander Wilmin Rodriguez in the eighth inning. Raul Padron singled with one out in the inning and moved to second on a groundout. Karexon Sanchez brought him in a batter later with a single back through the middle. Right-hander Heath Hembree came on to get the final out of the inning, keeping Richmond in front, 4-3.

Hembree endured a few tense moments after walking the lead-off batter, John Drennen, in the ninth inning, but ultimately slammed the door on the Aeros. Hembree earned his 16 save in his 17th opportunity with the performance.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 7:05 PM at Canal Park on Friday night. LHP Eric Surkamp (10-4, 2.02) will make the start for the Squirrels against LHP T.J. McFarland (9-8, 3.98) for the Aeros. Pregame coverage will begin at 6:35 PM, and can be heard on Sports Radio 910 AM and SportsRadio910.com.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics



Eastern League Stories from August 25, 2011


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