The Harrisburg Senators (54-44) snapped a 1-1 game in the seventh and tiptoed past Richmond, 2-1 on Friday night at FNB field. For the second consecutive night, pinch-hitter Shawn Pleffner pushed across the go-ahead run in the seventh to defeat Richmond (38-59). Sam Coonrod suffered the loss despite turning in a quality start. Coonrod (2-2) lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs on three hits in the contest.
Ryder Jones provided Richmond with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Harrisburg’s Boone Whiting walked Chris Shaw on four pitches to open the frame and Jones then struck a double into the gap to produce the run. Harrisburg countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game, 1-1. Neftali Soto lined a two-strike pitch to right center field for a double and advanced to third base via a fly out to right. Isaac Ballou brought Soto home with a sacrifice fly, tying the game.
Coonrod recovered after the Soto doubled and retired seven consecutive hitters until an error in the fourth disrupted the stretch. Wilmer Difo dropped a bunt up the first base line that knocked off the glove of Chris Shaw for an error. Coonrod walked the next batter Neftali Soto but picked up a double play to end the threat.
Harrisburg applied pressure again in the fifth. Stephen Perez worked a two-tow out walk and the Senators then opted to pinch-hit for the pitcher. Kevin Keyes delivered a single, putting two runners aboard for Rafael Bautista. Bautista attempted to bunt and sent the ball back to the mound. Coonrod fielded and threw to first to close out the inning.
Whiting received a no-decision and hurled five innings before he was pulled for the pinch-hitter. Whiting allowed the one run on four hits. He tossed 76 pitches in the no-decision.
For the second consecutive night, Harrisburg took the lead in the seventh inning on a pinch-hit from Shawn Pleffner. Coonrod had successfully moved through the middle innings, throwing just 68 pitches heading into the seventh. However, Coonrod and Richmond hit a snag as Isaac Ball reached on a walk. Spencer Kieboom then grounded out to third, advancing the go-ahead run to second. Richmond chose to intentionally walk Stephen Perez to set up a force out and end the outing for Coonrod. Preston Claibrone was called upon to face pinch-hitter Shawn Pleffner and Pleffner laced a single to right. Ballou came around to score from second base, sliding in just under the tag at home for a 2-1 Senators lead. Coonrod tossed 85 pitches and allowed just the two runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out four in the loss.
John Simms (7-4) earned the win for Harrisburg by tossing two scoreless innings in relief. Robert Benincasa picked up the save despite walking the tightrope in the ninth. Richmond had the tying and go-ahead runs aboard in the ninth, but Benincasastruck out Brandon Bednar to end the game.
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