Return of the Matt: Gage deals against Flying Squirrels in win

Former Richmond ace Matt Gage dealt six shutout innings against his former team to lead the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (54-60) in a 5-1 win over the Flying Squirrels (53-59) on Tuesday night at The Diamond in front of 8,321 fans. Binghamton scored early and pulled away with a two-run homer from Joey Terdoslavich in the fifth inning. Richmond will attempt to even the series on Wednesday night with Conner Menez on the mound. Wednesday in Funnville is a Wine Up Wednesday and Fredericksburg Community Night. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Gage’s return to Richmond was the story of the night. In his first start with the Mets organization, the lefty tossed six scoreless innings against his former teammates. Gage (1-0) scattered seven hits and walked just one while striking out two to earn the win. Gage was released by the organization last month and signed with the Mets on Saturday.

The Rumble Ponies ambushed Richmond starter Mike Connolly to the tune of a pair of first inning runs. Levi Michael jumped on the first pitch of the game and drilled it into the right field corner for a double. Mets top prospect Andres Gimenez swiftly followed two pitches later with an RBI double to left. Jimenez scored for a 2-0 lead when Joey Terdoslavich singled into right field. Connolly managed to escape the inning without further damage as he induced a double play and strikeout to end the frame.

The Ponies added another run in the fourth, creating an early exit for Connolly. With runners on the corners and one out, Levi Michael bounced a ball under the glove of CJ Hinojosa at third. The error scored Jhoan Urena and gave Binghamton a 3-0 lead. Carlos Diaz was summoned from the bullpen after the error. Diaz struck out the first batter Gimenez but then walked Will Toffey to load the bases. Diaz then punched out Terdoslavich to end the inning.

Connolly worked 3.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out four, using 70 pitches in the defeat. Diaz added a scoreless fifth inning in his relief stint. Reliever Garrett Williams entered for the sixth and tossed a 1-2-3 inning but encountered trouble in the seventh. Williams walked Will Toffey to begin the frame and allowed a two-run shot to Terdoslavich.

Gage finally departed the game after he batted in the top of the seventh. Relivers Matt Blackhan (2.0IP, 0H,BB, K) and Ryder Ryan (1.0IP, H, R, 0ER) backed Gage to finish off the win. The Squirrels scored their lone run of the game off Ryan in the bottom of the ninth inning. John Polonius lofted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Luigi Rodriguez to make it a 5-1 contest.

The Flying Squirrels continue their six-game homestand against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets) Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Flying Squirrels RHP Conner Menez (4-3, 4.47) will make the start in the middle game of the series against RHP Harol Gonzalez (0-4, 10.17). Wednesday at The Diamond is a Wine up Wednesday. Wine specials run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. It is also Fredericksburg Community Night. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN