The Reading Phillies (43-33) picked up two unearned runs in the first inning and never looked back, dumping the Richmond Flying Squirrels (36-41), 10-2, on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The first game of an eight-game road trip for the Squirrels, extends their season-long losing-streak to five games.
An error on Richmond starter Mike Kickham opened the door for Reading in the first inning and they hurriedly took advantage. Kickham dropped a throw from first baseman Mark Minicozzi that allowed Darin Ruf to reach with two outs. It extended the inning for Miguel Abreu and he promptly singled back through the middle to put two aboard. Leandro Castro followed and drilled a two-run double into the left-field corner for a 2-0 lead. Both runs were unearned against Kickham.
Cesar Hernandez led off the Reading third inning with a double, signaling trouble ahead for Kickham. Kickham followed with a walk to Ruf, and Abreu bunted the runners up to second and third. Castro struck again, punching another two-run double, this time to right field. Castro extended the R-Phils lead to 4-0, having driven in all four runs. A batter later, Kickham issued another walk to Jiwan James. Troy Hanzawa then shot a double into right-center field. Both runners scored, although Hanzawa was only credited with a single RBI as Gary Brown committed an error in center field.
Kickham (5-6) departed the ballgame to the loss in the fourth inning. He conceded six runs – three earned – over 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits, walked five and struck out four. Kickham has walked 11 batters over his last two starts.
The R-Phils added a run off of reliever Jake Dunning in the fifth inning before Richmond finally got on the board in the sixth. Their lone tally against Reading left-hander Mario Hollands came courtesy of a Daniel Mayora sacrifice fly. Hollands (2-0) departed with a 7-1 lead after six innings. He earned the win, allowing just a lone run on two hits. He walked three and struck out three.
Reading added insult to injury with three final runs in the seventh inning. They were charged to right-hander Andy Reichard. Troy Hanzawa registered a two-run triple and Brandon Tripp added an RBI single.
The Squirrels capped the scoring with a run in the eighth off of Reading right-hander Colby Shreve. Minicozzi doubled home Johnny Monell, who had opened the inning with a double.
Game two of the four-game series in Baseballtown is scheduled for 12:05 PM on Wednesday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. Richmond RHP Justin Fitzgerald (3-5, 4.34) will oppose Reading RHP Julio Rodriguez (4-1, 3.01). Pregame coverage will begin at 11:35 AM on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.
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Chris Graham
