Richmond Flying Squirrels snap six-game losing skid

The Richmond Flying Squirrels tied a season high with eight runs on a season-high 11 hits to knock off Altoona, 8-5, on Saturday at PNG Field and snap a six-game losing streak.

With the game tied at five in the eighth inning, Richmond (8-11) put runners on first and second for Chris Shaw. On an 0-2 pitch, Shaw ripped a two-run triple against left-hander Blake Weiman (Loss, 0-1) to right-center field to give the Flying Squirrels a 7-5 lead.

Shaw finished the game 2-for-5 with a triple and a season-high four RBIs.

Richmond added a run in the ninth when Heath Quinn drove in Brock Stassi with a sacrifice fly. Melvin Adon (Win, 1-2) and Rodolfo Martinez (Save, 1) combined for three scoreless and hitless innings out of the bullpen to secure the win.

Richmond started the scoring in the top of the second inning when Jonah Arenado smacked a solo home run to left. Altoona (10-11) responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by Hunter Owen to tie the game.

The Flying Squirrels and Curve went back-and-forth for the first five innings, at one point posting runs in seven consecutive half-innings.

Richmond scored a run in the third with two outs. After Stassi singled, he came in to score on a single from Ryan Howard and an error from right-fielder Bligh Madris.

Altoona lept in front with two runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a solo home run from Logan Hill against starter Brandon Lawson. In his San Francisco Giants organizational debut, Lawson tossed 3.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and zero walks.

The Flying Squirrels responded in the next half-inning, plating two runs in the top of the fourth. Three batters after Heath Quinn and Arenado started the inning with back-to-back singles, Shaw grounded a single through the right side to give Richmond a 4-3 lead.

After the Curve scored in the fourth to re-tie the game, the Flying Squirrels added a run in the fifth to maintain a one-run lead. Stassi singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-4.

Stassi and Arenado each posted multi-hit games and scored three runs, tied for the most runs scored by a Flying Squirrels player in a single game this season. Stassi went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk in his first start since April 20, while Arenado finished the day 2-for-5 with a home run.

Altoona pulled even in the sixth, when Jason Delay collected his second RBI single of the game to knot the score at five.

The Flying Squirrels finish their series with the Altoona Curve on Saturday at PNG Field, when right-hander Alfred Gutierrez (0-1, 4.82 ERA) starts for Richmond against Altoona right-hander Yeudy Garcia (0-0, 0.82). First pitch is set for 2 p.m., and coverage begins with the Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup presented by Air Force Reserve at 3:30.

Richmond returns to The Diamond to begin a six-game homestand on Thursday, May 2. As part of the 10 memorable past promotions series, fans in attendance can enter to win a gently-used car. The winner will be announced on the field postgame before In-Your-Face Fireworks.

For tickets or more information, call 804-359-3866 (FUNN), visit SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets or stop by the Flying Squirrels box office.