The Flying Squirrels (53-57) waited out a pair of rain delays on Saturday evening and took down the Portland Sea Dogs (45-65) in a doubleheader sweep at Hadlock Field. Richmond won the opener 4-1 and held on in the night cap, 3-1. Squirrels starting pitchers Jack McCasland and Chase Johnson each earned wins while each lasting five innings. Richmond has won three straight contests and will attempt to sweep the series in the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Squirrels return to Funnville for a six-game homestand beginning Tuesday, August 7 against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Tuesday at The Diamond is the annual Tribute to the Peanut night.
Game 1
Jonah Arenado (3-4, 2RBI) gathered three hits in support of a five-inning effort of Squirrels starter Jake McCasland to lead the Squirrels in the game one. The scheduled start time for the opener (5 p.m.) was pushed back over an hour (6:05 p.m.) after rain once again appeared at Hadlock Field. Once play began, the Seadogs quickly pulled ahead 1-0 with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Richmond starter Jake McCasland walked Danny Mars on a close 3-2 pitch to put the first runner on base. Bobby Dalbec – in his first plate appearance at Double-A – then swatted a single off the top of the Maine Monster in left field, scoring Mars for a 1-0 lead. McCasland finished the inning with a strikeout of Luke Tendler.
Luigi Rodriguez’ two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning gave the Squirrels a 2-1 lead. With two outs in the inning, Dylan Davis worked a walk, reloading the bases for Jonah Arenado. The Squirrels third baseman Arenado lofted a bloop base hit up the right field line that dropped, producing two runs for a 4-1 advantage.
The single for Arenado also ended the start for Dedgar Jimenez. The lefty Jimenez walked the first two batters in the fifth and that jump started the Squirrels attack. Jimenez (6-7) walked three over all, all in the fifth inning and suffered the loss. He tossed 4.2 innings in the defeat and allowed the four runs on eight hits.
The one run was the only damage allowed by McCasland as he tossed the requisite five innings to earn the win. McCasland allowed five hits and walked one while striking out six. Reliever Dusten Knight replaced McCasland to begin the sixth inning and struck out a pair to end the frame. Knight walked a batter and hit a man with two outs in the seventh before shutting the door to earn his second save of the year.
The game was delayed at the start one hour and five minutes due to rain. The tarp was called for in the third inning creating another 51 minutes.
Game 2
In game two, right-hander Chase Johnson dealt season-high-tying five innings to earn his first win of the season. Johnson was more than effective for Richmond in his second start back from a blister injury. The righty tossed 55 pitches over five quiet innings to limit the Sea Dogs. Johnson walked just one, allowed a pair of hits and struck out four. The five innings pitched foe Johnson matched his season-high.
Saturday’s second contest did not begin until 9:39 p.m. Despite the late night, a spry group of Squirrels did not waste anytime scoring early in the contest. Ali Castillo worked a walk to begin the game for Richmond. A hit batter and a bunt moved Castillo to third and Dylan Davis grounded a ball to third to produce a 1-0 lead. Davis (2-4, 2RBI) dove in two of the three runs.
The first inning run was all that Portland’s starting pitcher Daniel McGrath allowed over four innings in the defeat. The lefty McGrath (1-3) allowed just the one run on a pair of hits. He walked two, hit two and struck out one.
Richmond added a pair of runs against reliver Jared Oliver in the fifth inning. Oliver walked a pair and allowed a single to Ali Castillo to load the bases in his Double-A debut. The righty then struck out Ryan Howard for the first out of the inning but could not get Dylan Davis who lined a single into left for a 2-0 lead. Caleb Gindl added a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give Richmond a 3-0 cushion.
After Johnson was through, Sam Wolff slammed the door with two scoreless innings. Wolff struck out the side in the ninth to secure the win and his third save of the year.
Richmond and Portland will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Squirrels are scheduled to start RHP Logan Webb. Webb’s Double-A debut will be against Sea Dogs RHP Teddy Stankiewicz. The Squirrels return to Funnville for a six-game homestand on Tuesday, August 7 against thee Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Tuesday at The Diamond is the annual Tribute to the Peanut night. The first 1,000 fans (15+) will receive a free foam peanut cap. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN
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