Squirrels Subdue SeaWolves, 6-3
Published on July 28, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
ERIE, Pa. - Juan Perez went 2-for-4 with a home runs and two RBIs and Justin Fitzgerald allowed six hits and three runs, only one of which was earned, in six innings to lead the Richmond Flying Squirrels (55-53) to a 6-3 win over the Erie SeaWolves (47-60) 5-2 in the third game of a four-game series Saturday night at Jerry Uht Park. Gary Brown added three hits for a Richmond club that will seek a win and a series victory when the two teams meet Sunday afternoon.
Richmond struck first with a run in the top of the second. Perez smacked a solo home run - his eighth of the season - leading off the frame, which gave the Squirrels a 1-0 advantage.
Erie seized the lead an inning later thanks to an untimely defensive miscue from Richmond. After Fitzgerald retired the first two batters in the bottom of the third, Daniel Mayora made an errant throw to first baseman Mark Minicozzi. The error enabled James McCann to reach base and kept the inning alive for Jamie Johnson, who doubled to put runners at second and third. Niuman Romero followed with a two-run single that put Erie in front 2-1.
Richmond responded with a run in the fourth. Tommy Joseph and Minicozzi drew walks from SeaWolves starter Patrick Cooper to begin the inning. Two batters later, Luke Anders hit a sacrifice fly that plated Joseph and evened the score at 2-2.
The Flying Squirrels reclaimed the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Brown ripped a one-out double and Ehire Adrianza followed with an RBI single. Mayora and Joseph followed with singles before Minicozzi delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Adrianza. Then, Perez hit an RBI single that extended Richmond's lead to 5-2 and chased Cooper from the ballgame.
The SeaWolves chipped away at Richmond's lead in the bottom of the fifth when Cory Jones hit a solo home run to make it a 5-3 contest.
Richmond pushed the lead back to three runs when Ryan Cavan hit his team-leading tenth home run of the season leading off the sixth inning. The Squirrels maintained the lead and appeared to be headed for a win when play was halted with two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the eighth due to a power outage that affected most of downtown Erie, including Jerry Uht Park. After a 22-minute delay, play resumed and Tom Vessella struck out Avisail Garcia to end the inning with Richmond still holding a three-run lead.
With the win, Fitzgerald (7-7) evened his overall record and finished July with a 4-1 mark and a 1.66 ERA in six starts. Cooper (2-6) took the loss for Erie after he surrendered nine hits and five earned runs in four and 2/3 innings pitched. Flying Squirrels closer Brett Bochy worked a scoreless frame in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his 13th save.
The Squirrels will aim for a series victory when the two teams meet in the finale of the four-game set Sunday afternoon at 1:35 PM. Richmond will send LHP Chris Gloor (2-2, 1.99) to the mound. Erie is expected to counter with RHP Jared Gayhart (1-2, 4.08). Pregame coverage will begin at 1:05 PM on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.
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