EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Squirrels Thump Fisher Cats for Series Win, 9-3

Published on June 12, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - The Richmond Flying Squirrels racked up 12 hits as they sprinted past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 9-3, in the finale of a three-game series at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Squirrels also earned the series victory over the Fisher Cats and finished their New England road-trip with a record of 4-2.

The Squirrels enjoyed a short-lived early lead when they posted the first run of the ballgame against right-hander Robert Ray in the first inning. Justin Christian drew a lead-off walk from Ray, and promptly swiped second base. The throw on the stolen base attempt was errant from catcher Yan Gomes, and the error allowed Christian to third base. He scored to put Richmond in front, 1-0, when Johnny Monell grounded out to first base.

New Hampshire responded quickly in the bottom of the inning against left-hander Clayton Tanner. Adeiny Hechavarria led off with a double up the third-base line. Darin Mastroianni then laid down a perfect bunt-single to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Hechavarria scored on a wild-pitch from Tanner to tie the game, 1-1.

The Fisher Cats took their first lead in the bottom of the second. Gomes reached on a swinging-bunt single up the third-base line. A batter later, John Tolisano golfed a two-run home run off the left-field foul pole for a 3-1 New Hampshire lead. Tolisano's fourth home run of the season was the eighth allowed by Tanner.

The resilient Squirrels regrouped and bounced right back in the top of the third. Making his first appearance of the season, Eliezer Zambrano led off with a double up the left-field line off of Ray. Skyler Stromsmoe attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt and instead put down a bunt-single. Christian then grounded a ball to Hechavarria at short, which he tried to throw to second base. Tolisano couldn't handle the throw, which deflected into center field. Zambrano scored on the error, while Stromsmoe wound up at third and Christian at second with nobody out. Charlie Culberson brought in Stromsmoe with a ground out to third base, and Roger Kieschnick gave the Squirrels the lead back when he stroked an RBI triple up the first-base line. Two of the three runs score were unearned against Ray as Richmond emerged from the inning with a 4-3 advantage.

Richmond broke the game open with four runs in the fifth. Culberson sparked the Squirrels with a one-out single. He stole second base as Monell struck out swinging. He then swiped third, and when Gomes threw wildly into left field, he scored for a 5-3 lead. It was the second throwing error of the day charged to Gomes. The Squirrels were just getting starting, as Ray walked Kieschnick before retiring for the day. Right-hander Ronald Uviedo came on in relief and walked Sharlon Schoop as Kieschnick stole both second and third base. Nick Noonan delivered an RBI single and Jose Flores singled to load the bases. Zambrano then came through again, driving a ball off the wall in right field. Schoop and Noonan both scored on the two-run single, stretching the Squirrels' lead to 8-3.

Ray (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his first outing of the season. He worked 4 2/3 innings and conceded six runs - four earned - on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Following the second-inning home run, Tanner (2-6) was sharp. He earned his second win of the season over seven innings. He scattered nine hits and allowed three earned runs. His seventh quality start of the season matched his season-long outing. He walked none and struck out four.

Richmond tacked on their final run in the eighth against reliever Mike Hinckley. Stromsmoe knocked in Noonan with a single. Noonan, who had also singled, finished the day with four hits.

Right-hander Osiris Matos worked a scoreless inning of relief, and left-hander Wilmin Rodriguez polished off the victory with a scoreless ninth.

The Squirrels will return to Richmond, VA, and enjoy an off day on Monday before opening a three-gamer series with the Binghamton Mets (New York Mets) on Tuesday night at The Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM as the Squirrels will send LHP Ryan Verdugo (4-1, 2.36) against RHP Tobi Stoner (1-2, 8.44) for the B-Mets. For tickets or more information, please visit SquirrelsBaseball.com.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 12, 2011


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