Richmond Flying Squirrels drop series finale in Hartford

Richmond Flying Squirrels starting pitcher Shaun Anderson turned in a quality outing in a 3-1 loss on Wednesday in Hartford. The loss snapped the Squirrels’ (4-3) three-game winning streak in closing the first road trip of the year. Hartford (1-6) avoided the series sweep with their first win of the season. The team returns home to Richmond for the home opener on Friday at The Diamond. Limited tickets for Friday remain. Tickets and promotions for the entire homestand can be found here.

Anderson (1-1) suffered the loss despite working six solid innings. Hartford’s right fielder Sam Hilliard gave the Goats a 2-0 lead in the second with his second home run of the year. Brian Mundell reached on an infield single to begin the inning and came around on a deep blast over the right field wall from Hilliard. Anderson regrouped after the homer and struck out a pair around a base hit to close the second.

The righty Anderson quickly recovered and moved through the third and fourth innings in his second start of the year. Anderson needed just nine pitches to retire the side in the third, using only 48 pitches after four frames. Hartford tacked on a run in the fifth when Yonathan Daza smashed an RBI triple to right center to make it a 3-1 Yard Goats lead.

Richmond struggled to find offense against Hartford hurler Ryan Castellani. The 22 year-old Castellani (1-0) earned with win with six innings pitched. He walked one, struck out five and allowed just three hits in the effort.

The Flying Squirrels cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth, but were left wanting with the bases loaded. Ronnie Jebavy was hit by a pitch to open the inning and he advanced to third when Ryan Howard singled to right field. That set up the return of Miguel Gomez who lined a base hit into center for the Squirrels first run of the game. With two outs, Jonah Arenado worked a walk to load the bases, but Castellani struck out Davis to keep the Hartford lead intact.

Anderson lasted six innings and allowed the three runs on six hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in the loss. Dan Slania and Ryan Halstead each retired the side in relief for Richmond.

The Yard Goats bullpen duo of LHP Mitch Horacek and Matt Pierpont kept Richmond at bay. Horacek struck out five over two innings and Pierpont closed out the ninth to earn his first save of the season.