Squirrels Take Opener In BaseballTown, 5-2
June 30, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
READING, PA - The Richmond Flying Squirrels took the lead with a four-run third inning and never looked back, defeating the Reading Phillies (39-40), 5-2, in front of 7,888 at FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday night.
After a quiet two innings, Squirrels' starting pitcher Eric Surkamp got Richmond started offensively with a one-out single against mound-counterpart Joe Esposito. Esposito then walked Francisco Peguero. A batter later, he also walked Roger Kieschnick to load the bases with two outs. Chris Dominguez then sent a ground ball toward the hole on the left-side of the infield. Carlos Rivero made a sprawling stop on it, but threw errantly to second base. Dominguez was credited with an RBI single, scoring Surkamp. Peguero also streaked in on the throwing error for a 2-0 lead. Wes Hodges and Johnny Monell followed and each cracked an RBI single into center field as the Squirrels broke on top, 4-0.
Reading attempted to come right back against Surkamp in the bottom of the third. Niuman Romero got the R-Phils started with a single, which Tuffy Gosewisch followed with an infield-single to put two aboard. Surkamp recovered to record the first two outs of the inning, but Michael Spidale sent a single into center field. An overthrow to the plate from Juan Perez allowed Gosewisch to score. Carlos Rivero followed with an RBI single to cut the Squirrels lead in half, 4-2. One of the two runs charged to Surkamp was unearned due to the throwing error on Perez.
The Squirrels tacked a run back onto their lead and chased Esposito in the sixth inning. Esposito walked Monell to start the inning and conceded a single to Perez before departing with runners at first and second and nobody out. Right-hander Jordan Ellis entered in relief and committed an error on a sacrifice-bunt attempt from Surkamp that loaded the bases. Francisco Peguero brought in Monell on a fielder's choice ground out and the Squirrels led, 5-2.
Esposito (0-1) was saddled with the loss over five-plus innings. He allowed five runs - four earned - on eight hits. Esposito walked three and struck out three.
Surkamp (6-3) worked through the sixth inning, allowing two total runs - one earned. He earned his staff-best sixth victory, while allowing six hits, walking one and striking out four.
The Richmond bullpen was once again stout in relief, not allowing a run for an eighth consecutive ballgame. Left-hander Alex Hinshaw followed Surkamp and worked two scoreless innings. Right-hander Jason Stoffel closed it out for his 13th save of the season, stranding two to preserve the win in the ninth.
Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 7:05 PM at FirstEnergy
Stadium on Friday night. LHP Clayton Tanner (3-7, 4.42) will make the
start for Richmond against B.J. Rosenberg (2-3, 4.42) for Reading.
Pregame coverage will begin at 6:35 PM, and can be heard on Sports Radio
910 and SportsRadio910.com.
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