Richmond blanks SeaDogs, 6-0, takes frontrunner series

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (68-53) used four hurlers to blank the Portland Sea Dogs, 6-0, at The Diamond on Sundayafternoon.  The win gave Richmond the series victory in a matchup of first-place ball clubs.

Richmond right-hander Kyle Crick started the ballgame and worked four scoreless innings.  He escaped from a bases loaded with nobody out jam in the first inning and faced little resistance the rest of the way.  He was lifted due to pitch count, having allowed just two hits – both singles.  He walked three, struck out five and didn’t factor in the decision.

The Squirrels were stymied for six innings by Portland right-hander Mike Augliera.  He held Richmond at bay on just four hits, walked one and struck out five.  He exited a scoreless game however, and didn’t factor in the decision.

Angel Villalona got the Squirrels started as their bats came alive against the bullpen in the seventh inning.  Villalona led off with a double punched to the right-field corner.  Ricky Oropesa followed and chopped an infield-single back up the middle.  Tyler LaTorre then reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed the Squirrels to score their first run.  Righty Dayan Diaz then walked Skyler Stromsmoe to load the bases.  Elliott Blair followed and shot a bases-clearing three-run double to the right-field corner to give Richmond a commanding 4-0 lead.  Diaz (1-1) took the loss for Portland.

Blair tacked on another RBI single in the eighth inning, finishing his day 2-for-5 with four runs batted in.  Blake Miller then capped the scoring for the day with an RBI single of his own.  The final two runs were plated against righty Aaron Kurcz.

The Squirrels bullpen was stellar in the win as three hurlers combined for five scoreless innings.  Right-hander Jose Casilla followed Crick with two scoreless frames.  Lefty Steven Okert (1-0) handled the next two with no trouble to earn the win, and righty Hunter Strickland handled the ninth in a non-save situation.

The Squirrels will travel to Manchester, NH, and will enjoy an off day there on Monday.  They open a six-game road trip and three-game serieson Tuesday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.  First pitch of the opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. as Richmond LHP Adalberto Mejia (5-7, 5.17) will make the start against RHP Scott Copeland (8-7, 3.70).  The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup begins at 6:35 p.m. on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.