In a wild affair that featured two franchise records, a 41-minute rain delay, a position player pitching and two players and an umpire leaving due to injury, the Flying Squirrels (51-57) survived New Hampshire (62-45) in a 20-8 romp on Thursday night at Delta Dental Stadium. It was the second time in team history the Squirrels plated 20 runs in a contest (5/26/13) and the first time New Hampshire allowed 20 runs in a game. Richmond avoided the series sweep with the win and snapped the ‘Cats seven-game winning streak.
Dylan Davis (4-5, 3R, RBI), Jonah Arenado (3-4, 3R, 2RBI) and CJ Hinojosa (1-4, 4RBI) led the 18-hit, 20-run attack for Richmond. Leading 12-7 in the top of the ninth, the Squirrels piled on eight runs in their largest inning of the year. ‘Cats reliever Dusty Isaacs was lit up for seven of those runs and walked in three consecutive runs with the bases loaded. Isaacs was replaced by backup catcher Ryan Hissey who allowed RBI hits to Jeff Arnold, John Polonius and John Riley. Riley’s RBI single pushed across the record-tying 20th run of the night.
The game unfortunately included plenty of attrition. Home plate umpire Aaron Higgins left the game after getting hit by a foul tip in the seventh inning. Squirrels catcher Aramis Garcia departed the contest after making a sliding catch into the backstop to end the eighth and Richmond hurler Patrick Ruotolo left the game with an injury with two outs in the ninth. Dan Slania came out of the ‘pen to finally finish off the game that took three hours and thirty-five minutes to play.
At the outset, the contest looked like more of the same form the previous two nights. The Fisher Cats struck for five runs in the first off starting pitcher Conner Menez. New Hampshire sent 10 men to the plate in the inning and Menez tossed 36 pitches in the frame.
Richmond immediately battled back from the early 5-0 deficit by plating four runs in the top of the second inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Jonah Arenado was hit by a pitch to put Richmond on the board. Matt Lipka then lifted a sacrifice fly to left and CJ Hinojosa squeaked a two-run base hit between short and third. Hinojosa’s single made it a 5-4 contest.
A quirky third inning that began with a Dylan Davis double and ended with a 7-2-1-3-4 run-scoring putout. With Davis on second, Jonah Arenado blooped a fly ball into shallow center field. Defender Forest Wall made a diving attempt on the ball but trapped it, along Arenado to reach second on the play. A ground ball to short scored Davis and allowed Arenado to reach third when the throw was dropped (E-5). A similar play for the next hitter Ali Castillo gave Richmond a 6-5 lead. CJ Hinojosa finished the inning with a sacrifice fly.
The Squirrels continued to apply pressure throughout the night. Three more runs scored in the fifth with RBIs form Caleb Gindl (base hit) and Matt Lipka (sacrifice fly). Davis added his second double of the game that scored a run n the seventh and Ryan Howard rocked an RBI double in the eighth.
Menez lasted five innings, just enough to earn win. The lefty settled in after the outburst in the first and allowed a total of seven runs on ten hits. He walked three and struck out four while using 105 pitches in the effort.
Dillon McNamara replaced Menez and was superb in three scoreless innings. McNamara.
The game was delayed 41 minutes at the start due to impending weather that never arrived.
The Squirrels continue their six-game road trip with the first of three contests at Hadlock Field in Portland, ME on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Richmond will send RHP Jake McCasland (3-3, 3.69) to the mound against Sea Dogs LHP Dedgar Jimenez (6-6, 4.90). Richmond will be on the road until they return to Funnville for a six-game homestand on Tuesday, August 7 against thee Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN
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