EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Squirrels Outlast Sea Dogs In Opener, 7-4

Published on August 6, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


PORTLAND, ME - In the first ever meeting between the two clubs, the Richmond Flying Squirrels bested the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-4, in front of 6,945 on Friday night at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs struck first against Squirrels' right-hander David Mixon in the first inning. Mixon walked the lead-off man, Che-Hsuan Lin, to start trouble. Lin moved over on a ground ball and came in when Ray Chang doubled into the left-field corner for a 1-0 lead.

The Squirrels drew even against Portland righty Casey Kelley in the third, when Kellye walked Tyler La Torre to open the inning. Clay Timpner then shot a one-hop double off the wall in left-center field and La Torre raced around to tie the game, 1-1.

Lin led off the third and chopped an infield-single off the plate to get the Sea Dogs started. Mixon threw wildly attempting to throw Lin out, and he wound up at second base on the error. Nate Spears followed with an RBI double to right-center field to give Portland the lead back, 2-1. Two batters later, Anthony Rizzo poked a single into right-center field to plate Spears and the Sea Dogs enjoyed a 3-1 advantage.

Richmond came roaring back in the fifth. Ryan Lormand led off and sparked the Squirrels when Ryan Khoury misplayed his grounder to third. La Torre followed with a double to put two in scoring position with nobody out. Timpner then delivered an RBI single back up the middle and Brad Boyer replicated the feat to draw Richmond even, 3-3. After Darren Ford bunted the remaining runners up to second and third, Nick Noonan gave the Squirrels the lead, 4-3, with an RBI fielder's choice.

Mixon departed to a no-decision after five innings, having conceded three earned runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Kelley worked into the seventh inning, calling it a night after 6 2/3 innings. He didn't factor in the decision after surrendering four runs - three earned - on seven hits. He walked one and struck out one.

The Sea Dogs caught the Squirrels in the seventh. With left-hander Jake Stevens on the hill, Chih-Hsien Chang belted a solo-home run to right-center field to tie the game back up, 4-4.

The decisive inning came in the eighth for the Squirrels as they plated three runs to put the Sea Dogs away. Noonan sparked the uprising with a lead-off single. Neal walked behind him and the pair advanced on a wild pitch from reliever Mitch Herold. A batter later, Conor Gillaspie brought in Noonan with a single. Lormand then sent a swinging-bunt single left of the mound that brought home Neal for a two-run lead. A wild pitch with La Torre at the plate capped the scoring as Gillaspie completed the rally with the third run in the inning. Herold (2-4) was tagged the loss for Portland.

Daryl Maday (9-5), returning from a stint in Triple-A, earned the win in relief. He retired all four batters that he faced in a scoreless inning-and-a-third. Rafael Cova became the first Eastern League closer to 20 saves when he worked a perfect ninth.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Saturday night at Hadlock Field. LHP Clayton Tanner (7-7, 2.98) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Blake Maxwell (2-0, 2.25) for the Sea Dogs.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 6, 2010


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