Richmond closes out series with Senators with fourth straight win, 4-3, on Sunday

Mason Black’s strong start and a solid hitting performance drove the Richmond Flying Squirrels to a 4-3 win over the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond.

The Flying Squirrels (33-36), the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, ended the homestand with four consecutive wins against the Senators (31-37), the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, tying the longest win streak of the season.

Richmond jumped ahead, 2-0, in the third inning when Andy Thomas powered a two-run double against Harrisburg starter Alex Troop (Loss, 3-6). Thomas drove in seven runs over five games against the Senators in this week’s series.

Simon Whiteman upped the Richmond advantage to 3-0 in the fourth with an RBI groundout.

In the bottom of the fifth, Marco Luciano propelled a solo home run to right field and padded the Richmond lead to 4-0. It was Luciano’s team-leading 10th home run and his 19th extra-base hit this season.

Black held the Senators scoreless through 4.1 innings, allowing two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He has not allowed an earned run over his last four starts, totaling 17.1 innings.

Harrisburg broke the shutout in the sixth with an RBI groundout by Frankie Tostado against reliever Raymond Burgos (Win, 3-2).

With runners at second and third in the eighth, Trey Lipscomb hammered a two-RBI single to left field and cut the deficit to 4-3. Jose Cruz (Save, 4) entered the game and closed out the frame with a flyout.

Cruz issued two walks and a hit batter to load the bases in the ninth inning. With two outs, Tostado drove a fly ball to deep center field, but Vaun Brown ran it down to secure the Richmond victory.

The Flying Squirrels are off for two days before starting a six-game road series against the Reading Fightin Phils on Wednesday. Right-hander Ryan Murphy (1-4, 5.21) will make the start for Richmond in the series opener.

The team will return to The Diamond on Tuesday, July 4, and will celebrate Independence Day with the best fireworks show in Richmond presented by Chick-fil-A and Abilene Motor Express. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with first pitch scheduled for 6:35.

Limited tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.