Richmond Flying Squirrels conclude 2015 season with W

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (72-68) surpassed the Reading Fightin Phils on the field and at the gate with a 2-1 win on Monday afternoon in front of 5,751 to finish out the season. The Labor Day crowd pushed the Squirrels ahead of Reading to take the overall attendance title with a total of 417,828 fans on the year. It marks the fourth time the Squirrels have won the overall attendance title in six years (2015, 2014, 2012 and 2010 are the other three years). The 2016 Richmond home opener will be on April 14^th at The Diamond.

Reading was forced into the bullpen after just four pitches thrown by the starting hurler Nick Pivetta in the bottom of the first inning. Pivetta left the game after throwing a ball to the batter Rando Moreno. He departed holding his side and was replaced by lefty Joely Rodriguez. Rodriguez finished off the first inning but fell behind 1-0 in the second. Squirrels outfielder Devin Harris finished his season with a bang by smashing a solo homer to left centerfield for the 1-0 edge. Harris collected a pair of hits in the game and ended the season with 14 homers for Richmond.

The Phils tied the game, 1-1, with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Starter Matt Lujan allowed the first three batters to reach before Cameron Perkins drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Lujan was able to slip out of the inning with only the one run scored. Richmond plated the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Ethan Martin.  Myles Schroder led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Ricky Oropesa then delivered a base hit to left field for a 2-1 Squirrels lead. It was the 76^th RBI of the season for Oropesa, tying the single-season franchise mark set by Mario Lisson in 2014.

 Lujan was able to navigate around trouble for most of his outing.  Lujan (9-6) earned the win by holding Reading to just one run on seven hits over six innings of work. Lujan stranded nine batters in the game. Pedro Rodriguez finished out the game by pitching the final three innings to earn the save.

The Squirrels 2016 season will begin on the road in the inaugural game at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford Connecticut. The 2016 home opener will commence on April 14^th, 2016 at The Diamond to begin the 7^th season of Flying Squirrels baseball. Season ticket packages are on sale now.