The Portland Sea Dogs (24-36) snuck past the Richmond Flying Squirrels (30-27), 5-4, on Thursday night at The Diamond preventing the Squirrels from sweeping the three-game series. All five of Portland’s runs were scored by runners that had been walked. The Squirrels were foiled for the third time this year in an attempt to equal the franchise-mark for consecutive victories.
The Squirrels batted around as they took a 4-0 lead against right-hander Mike Augliera in the second inning. Augliero provided the spark when he issued a leadoff walk to Mitch Delfino. Ricky Oropesa followed with a single before Devin Harris blistered a double into the left-field corner. Delfino scored for a 1-0 lead. Angel Villalona then yanked an RBI single into left field. Myles Schroder followed and lifted a sacrifice-fly to left field to make it 3-0. Kelby Tomlinson capped the inning when he plated Villalona with an RBI single to right-center field.
Lefty Adalberto Mejia had little trouble with the Sea Dogs through the first two innings. However, he got wild in the third and it came back to haunt him. Mejia recorded the first two outs, but then issued back-to-back walks to Dave Sappelt and Jantzen Witte. He then hit Oscar Tejeda to load the bases. Luis Martinez cashed in the two walks with a two-run single to left field.
Mejia, on a pitch count, was lifted during the third-inning uprising. He was charged with two earned runs on three hits, walked two and struck out two. He did not factor in the decision.
Augliera righted the ship and kept the Sea Dogs in the game. He did not incur any additional damage, ultimately working six innings. He was charged with four earned runs on five hits and didn’t register a decision.
The Squirrels handed the Sea Dogs three runs as Portland took the lead in the eighth inning. Right-hander Stephen Johnson started the inning and walked the first two batters. Righty Jose Casilla then entered and walked another to load the bases with nobody out. Martinez and Jonathan Roof then supplied consecutive singles to tie the ballgame, 4-4. Richmond-native Reed Gragnani followed and provided the go-ahead run with a sacrifice-fly to left field.
Casilla (3-2) took the loss for the Squirrels. Lefty Robby Scott (1-0) turned in an inning and a third of flawless relief to earn the win. Right-hander Madison earned his first save of the season by firing the final inning and two thirds. He struck out two including Villalona to end the game.
The Squirrels continue their six-game homestand as they welcome the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers) for a three-game series beginning at 7:05 p.m.on Friday night at The Diamond. Richmond RHP Tyler Beede (1-0, 0.00) will make the start against Erie RHP Tommy Collier (1-0, 1.74). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:35 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
