Third Time The Charm As Squirrels Walk Off In 11, 1-0
April 27, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
RICHMOND, VA - Justin Christian supplied the game-winning single as the Richmond Flying Squirrels (9-10) walked off with a, 1-0, win in 11 innings over the Trenton Thunder (8-11) in front of 4,121 at The Diamond on Wednesday night. Christian, a longtime member of the New York Yankees organization, played for the Thunder in 2006, 2007 and again last season.
After two failed attempts to win the ballgame with the potential game-winning run at third base and less than two outs in the ninth and 10th innings, Roger Kieschnick led off the 11th against right-hander Fernando Hernandez. He doubled through the alley in left-center field, setting the stage for the Squirrels. Attempting to bunt Kieschnick to third base, Mike McBryde recorded a bunt-single to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Hernandez struck out Jose Flores, but Christian followed and laced a single into deep left-center field to plate Kieschnick with the winning run. Christian was promptly mauled in right field by his teammates.
Hernandez (1-2) was saddled with the loss for the Thunder, allowing the only run of the ballgame. It was the third time that the Squirrels needed extra-innings during their current home stand. They improved to 2-1 in extra-innings on the home stand, and 2-2 in extra frames overall on the year.
Both starters flourished on the hill through the first half of the ballgame. Squirrels' lefty Eric Surkamp and Trenton right-hander Craig Heyer traded scoreless frames through five innings. Surkamp faced a brief spot of trouble in the third, facing runners at the corners with just one out. He calmly struck out Dan Brewer and popped out Austin Romine to end the threat. Heyer had multiple runners on base only once, also in the third. Richmond loaded the bases with two down, but Joe Koshansky bounced into an inning-ending fielder's choice. Highlighting the stretch for Surkamp was the fourth inning when he fanned the side in order. During one stretch, he struck out five of six Trenton batters.
Heyer finished his night after five scoreless innings, having conceded just three hits. He didn't factor in the decision, walking one and striking out four. Surkamp went two innings further and once again struck out the side in the sixth. He finished his seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, matching the franchise record for strikeouts in a game for the second time. He turned in the longest outing of the season for the Squirrels, but did not factor in the decision.
Richmond's bullpen was superb in the win, as right-hander Dan Otero worked three nearly flawless innings of scoreless relief, striking out six in the process. Right-hander Jason Stoffel (1-0) earned the win for Richmond, whiffing two in a scoreless 10th inning.
The finale of the four-game series will be played Thursday morning at 10:35 AM at The Diamond. RHP Justin Fitzgerald (2-0, 1.88) will make the start for Richmond against LHP Steve Garrison (0-2, 6.19) for the Thunder. For tickets or more information, visit www.squirrelsbaseball.com.
Eastern League Stories from April 27, 2011
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