The Richmond Flying Squirrels (3-15) stranded 10 runners on base and fell, 1-0, to the New Britain Rock Cats (14-7) at New Britain Stadium on Friday night. The loss represented the franchise-record 13th consecutive defeat for the Squirrels as they were shut out for the fourth time on the season. The Squirrels remain winless against the Eastern Division (0-10), against the Rock Cats (0-4) and on the road (0-6).
New Britain lefty Ryan Carpenter and Richmond righty Kyle Crick engaged in a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings. Neither allowed a run, with Carpenter allowing four hits, while Crick permitted just two. Carpenter maneuvered around a pair of Richmond singles in the fifth to keep the Squirrels at bay. Crick wasn’t as fortunate in the bottom of the inning. Will Swanner put the Rock Cats on the board first as he opened the inning and lifted an opposite-field solo-home run to right field. Swanner’s second of the year gave the Rock Cats a 1-0 lead.
Crick (0-1) departed his longest outing of the season after recording the first out in the sixth inning. He was charged with just the lone run over 5 1/3 crisp innings. He permitted five hits, walked one and matched his season-high with eight strikeouts. He took the hard-luck loss, his first.
Meanwhile, Carpenter (2-2) kept right on cruising. He worked around an inning-opening error in the seventh and posted seven shutout innings. He allowed six hits, all singles, walked two and struck out three. He earned his second victory of the season.
Right-hander Nelson Gonzalez worked past a pair of singles to work a scoreless eighth inning. Righty Austin House then mowed the Squirrels down in order in the ninth to earn his league-leading seventh save.
Richmond right-hander Joan Gregorio and Jose Casilla pitched well out of the bullpen in defeat. They worked a combined 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Saturday night at New Britain Stadium. Richmond LHP Matt Lujan (0-2, 6.14) will make the start against New Britain RHP Shane Carle (4-0, 4.15). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
