EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Surkamp Matches Franchise Single-Game Strikeout Record in Richmond Loss

Published on April 8, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA - Their was no comeback for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (1-1) on a rainy Friday night at The Diamond, as they fell, 7-1, to the New Britain Rock Cats (1-1) in front of 5,638 fans in their second game of the season. The ballgame was played with light rain throughout the evening, but at no time was play halted due to the inclement weather.

Pitching dominated the early portion of the ballgame, as starters Eric Surkamp and Deolis Guerra matched scoreless innings through the fourth. Surkamp, making his Double-A debut for the Squirrels, fanned 10 Rock Cats, matching the franchise record for strikeouts in a single game, established by David Mixon against Bowie on July 18th, 2010. Surkamp was lifted after four innings due to his pitch count, having allowed just three hits. He struck out the side in both the third and fourth innings, a stretch that included striking out five consecutive Rock Cats. He did not factor in the decision despite his sterling performance.

As the rain intensified, the Squirrels went to the bullpen in the fifth. Right-hander Ronnie Ray (0-1) entered for Richmond and immediately had company on the bases as Joel Weeks committed a throwing error on a ground ball to short from Deibinson Romero. Romero was aboard a batter later, when Michael Hollimon decked a payoff pitch from Ray over the right field wall for a 2-0 Rock Cats' lead. It was the first home run for either club in the series.

Guerra (1-0) went an inning further for the win, keeping the Squirrels at bay through the fifth. He permitted just three hits, walked one and struck out two. Right-hander Cole Devries followed Guerra and was tremendous for three perfect innings. He struck out five and carried the game to the ninth inning for New Britain.

The Rock Cats tacked on two unearned runs against Squirrels' right-hander Edwin Quirarte in the eighth before putting the game away with three runs in the ninth. The rally in the ninth came at the expense of right-hander Dan Otero, and included RBI singles for Chris Parmalee and Joe Benson.

The Squirrels avoided being shutout when they scraped a run across against New Britain lefty Tyler Robertson in the ninth. Justin Christian started the inning with an infield-single and scored two batters later when Joe Koshansky doubled to right-center field.

Game three of the four-game series with New Britain is scheduled for 6:35 PM on Saturday night at The Diamond. RHP Justin Fitzgerald (0-0, ---) will make his Double-A debut for the Squirrels against RHP Bobby Lanigan (0-0, ---) for New Britain.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 8, 2011


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