A suspended game, a lengthy rain delay and a pair of losses all made for a long night for the Flying Squirrels on Sunday evening at The Diamond.
The Harrisburg Senators (71-65) wrapped up a 7-4 win in the suspended contest from Saturday – a contest that also included a one-hour and forty-two-minute rain delay Sunday – as well as a 6-1 win in game two. A crowd of 8,599 was on hand to witness the largest fireworks show in The Diamond’s history after the games concluded. The 2018 season wraps up tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. The final game of the year features Fan Appreciation Day and a Bruno Mars $2,500 Magic Tribute (prizes).
GAME ONE
The first contest on Sunday represented the resumption of Saturday’s suspended contest and featured a one-hour and forty-minute rain delay of its own. The game was picked up with a runner on first base and two outs in the top of third inning. Harrisburg pulled away in the middle innings and held on for a 7-4 win. The Squirrels struck first in the fifth inning on a home run from Ronnie Jebavy, his third of the year.
Richmond’s RHP Nolan Riggs resumed the action and retired the first six batters in the outing. Riggs struck out three batters over his first two innings of work.
Ronnie Jebavy snapped a 1-24 skid with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jebavy’s third home run of the season exited the park quickly and resulted in a 1-0 Richmond lead.
The Squirrels held Harrisburg without a hit through the first five innings. Carter Kieboom drilled the first Senators hit in with one out in the sixth. Kieboom slammed a double off the top of the left field fence and Daniel Johnson followed with a line drive double up the left field line, tying the game, 1-1. Richmond opted to intentionally walk Dan Gamache and then Riggs put Jake Noll on via a walk to load the bases for Drew Ward. The former 3rd round pick Ward cleared the bases with a triple lined over the leaping first baseman and into left field.
Riggs (0-1) suffered the defeat. The towering right-hander lasted a season-high tying 3.1 innings. Riggs allowed four runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out three on 54 pitches.
Harrisburg added three unearned runs in the seventh inning. A pair of Richmond errors coupled with and RBI base hit from Dan Gamache gave the Senators a 7-1 lead.
Senators right-hander Jaron Long took the resumption all the way to the ninth inning. Long worked six innings and allowed just one run to earn the win. The righty scattered six hits and struck out one batter. Reliver Jordan Mills took over in the ninth just as the rain returned to The Diamond. Mills walked a pair before recording the first two outs f the inning. Caleb Gindl lined out to shortstop for the second out but the rain persisted and the tarp was called for at 5:58 p.m.
A one hour and forty-two-minute rain delay ensued before the field was ready to finish the first game. Harrisburg’s Derek Self was tasked with getting the final out of the game. Matt Lipka singled coming out of the resumption, loading the bases. CJ Hinojosa then cleared the bags with a double, plating three to make it a 7-4 contest. Self retired the next hitter Ryan Howard to finally end the game.
Before the game was suspended on Saturday, Washington Nationals left-hander Tommy Milone tossed a pair of scoreless innings in his rehab appearance. Richmond righthander Chase Johnson tossed 2.2 scoreless innings before the skies fully opened to suspend the game. Johnson walked Alec Keller with two outs in the third when the tarp was called for.
GAME TWO
Drew Ward and Austin Davidson each drilled two-run homers to lead Harrisburg over Richmond in game two. Davidson scored three runs in the contest and the Senators received a complete-game from right-hander Sterling Sharp. Sharp (6-3) tossed all seven innings and allowed just one run to earn the win.
The Senators also took advantage of three Richmond errors in game two and five errors overall on the night.
The Flying Squirrels grabbed a brief 1-0 lead in the first inning. With one out, recently announced team MVP Ryan Howard smoked a double into right centerfield. Caleb Gindl followed with a sacrifice fly to left.
Harrisburg countered with six unanswered runs. Ward made it a 2-1 contest with his dinger in the second and Davidson put the game out of reach with his two-run blast in the fifth. The Davidson homer ended the outing for Webb, who lasted 4.2 innings in the defeat. Webb (1-2) allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Dan Slania chewed up the rest of the innings in relief. Slania worked 2.1 scoreless frames and struck out four in the process.
The 2018 season comes to a close on Monday at The Diamond. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m., with gates opening at 12 p.m. Richmond LHP Conner Menez (6-4, 4.38) is scheduled to start the season finale against Harrisburg LHP Logan Darnell (8-6, 3.93). Tickets and information can be found at www.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN
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Chris Graham
