The Harrisburg Senators (43-43) eased past the Richmond Flying Squirrels (43-40), 3-1, on Wednesday night at The Diamond. The Senators grabbed the series with the win, and have taken four of the last five meetings with the Squirrels.
The Senators struck quickly against lefty Kelvin Marte in the top of the first inning. Marte walked the first batter of the ballgame, Cutter Dykstra. An out later, Brian Goodwin singled to put two aboard. Matt Skole then worked the count full before yanking a three-run home run to right field. Skole’s team-leading 12th of the year gave Harrisburg a 3-0 lead.
Richmond got a lone run back in the bottom of the first off of right-hander Colin Bates. Austin Slater, batting leadoff for the first time, lifted an opposite-field double to right field. A batter later, Hunter Cole lined a single to left field. Dykstra threw wildly back to the infield and Slater came home to trim the Senators’ lead to 3-1.
Both pitchers settled in nicely after their early troubles. Bates (4-0) earned the win over four innings. He allowed just the lone run on six hits. He walked none and struck out five. Marte (7-2) suffered his second defeat of the season, but lasted seven innings. He endured despite needing 29 pitches in the first inning. He was charged with three earned runs on eight hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Right-hander Wander Suero worked two scoreless innings to stretch the game to the ninth inning. Lefty Nick Lee had a little trouble, but stranded the tying runs in scoring position in the ninth to earn his first save.
The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Thursday night at The Diamond. Richmond LHP Kelvin Matt Lujan (5-5, 4.14) will make the start against Harrisburg LHP Matthew Spann (2-0, 4.35). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:35 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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