Horan’s heroics lifts Squirrels over Reading

Flying Squirrels outfielder Tyler Horan lined a solo home run into the swimming pool in right field for the go-ahead run, lifting Richmond to a 2-1 win over Reading (78-43) on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Horan homered into the pool for the second consecutive night, and the Squirrels bullpen carried on a solid performance for starting pitcher Tyler Beede. Beede tossed 6 1/3 innings and struck out nine in a no-decision.

The Flying Squirrels once again received solid starting pitching on Wednesday night. Tyler Beede, making his 21^st start of the season, allowed just one hit through the first five innings of work. The Giants top pitching prospect punched out one batter in the first inning, three in the second, one more in the third, and another pair on the fourth. The righty picked up seven K’s through the first four innings and needed 72 pitches to get there.

Tyler Beede owned the night as he rolled up his sleeves and went to work at the plate as well as on the mound. Beede aided his own cause with an RBI single to left center field, plating Ryder Jones for a 1-0 lead in the second inning.  It was the fifth hit of the season for Beede and his first RBI.  He collected another base hit in his final at bat in the seventh inning.

Reading’s starting pitcher Tyler Viza was able to settle in after the run in the second. Viza worked around a walk in the third and then retired eight consecutive batters into the sixth inning. Chris Shaw flipped a base hit to left and Ryder Jones rolled a single to right, placing a pair of runners on. Viza then induced an inning-ending double play to keep the score 1-0.

Reading tied the game, 1-1 in the sixth inning on yet another home run. For the second consecutive night, Dylan Cozens drilled a solo home run for Reading. It was the 35^th homer of the season for Cozens, matching his teammate Rhys Hoskins for the league lead. Beede was able to shrug off the homer and pitched into the seventh inning. After getting the first out in the seventh, he hit Gabriel Lino and relinquished a soft base hit to end his outing. Tyler Mizenko then entered and loaded the bases before inducing a game-changing double play to keep the game tied.

Tyler Horan was the hero of the night as the game moved into the ninth inning. Horan lined a solo shot just over the right field wall for a 2-1 lead. Horan homered off of reliever Miguel Nunez, giving the righty the loss. Nunez (4-2) had allowed just one homer run all year prior to Horan’s liner.

The Squirrels bullpen of Mizenko, Christian Jones, Nestor Molina and Preston Claiborne all turned in scoreless efforts to win the game. Moline (1-0) pitched to just one hitter in the eighth inning and earned the win in his Richmond debut. Claiborne set the side down in the ninth to earn his second save of the year.