The Richmond Flying Squirrels (0-2) couldn’t shake the New Britain Rock Cats (2-0), and fell late, 4-3, at New Britain Stadium on Friday afternoon. The Squirrels had never trailed in the ballgame prior to the decisive run being scored by New Britain.
Brandon Waring supplied the game-winner, sending a solo-home run to left field off Quirarte in the eighth inning. Waring’s first of the season broke a 3-3 stalemate. Quirarte (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Squirrels.
For the second consecutive ballgame, the Squirrels mounted a two-out rally in the first inning to take the game’s first lead. Jarrett Parker sparked Richmond with a single to the left side of the infield. Mario Lisson followed and earned a 10-pitch walk from New Britain starter D.J. Baxendale. Angel Villalona then looped a single into center field to plate Parker for a 1-0 lead.
Richmond right-hander Clayton Blackburn subdued New Britain for the first three innings of his Double-A debut. However, the Rock Cats drew even in the ballgame in the fourth inning. Nate Hanson and Kennys Vargas contributed back-to-back singles to right field to start the inning. Blackburn recorded the first out, but Reynaldo Rodriguez clubbed a game-tying double off the left-center field wall. Blackburn escaped further trouble by inducing an inning-ending double play.
The Squirrels grabbed the lead back hurriedly, plating a run and chasing Baxendale in the top of the fifth inning. Brett Krill and Ryan Lollis opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Kelby Tomlinson moved Krill over with a ground out and Matt Duffy restored the lead, 2-1, with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Baxendale (0-1) departed to a no-decision after 4 2/3 innings. He surrendered two runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two. Blackburn outlasted him but also didn’t factor in the decision. He conceded just a lone run on five hits over five innings.
The Squirrels added a run to their lead in the sixth inning, gaining a 3-1 advantage against right-hander Adrian Salcedo. Krill knocked in that run with a fielder’s choice that scored Myles Schroder.
New Britain caught up for the second time in the bottom of the sixth. Left-hander Bryce Bandilla entered to make his first appearance as a Squirrel. He struggled with his command and walked two of the first three hitters that he faced. After Rodriguez singled to load the bases, Bandilla walked his third batter of the inning, forcing in Hanson. Bandilla was lifted in favor of Quirarte. Quirarte cleaned up the inning, but not before Mike Kvasnicka squared the game with an RBI bounce out.
Lefty Ryan O’Rourke (1-0) worked a scoreless 1 2/3 innings and was awarded with the win. Righty Lester Oliveros came on and earned his first save of the season with a routine ninth inning.
Game three of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. from New Britain Stadium. Richmond LHP Adelberto Mejia (0-0, —) will make his Double-A debut against New Britain LHP Taylor Rogers (0-0, —). Pregame coverage will begin at 12:30 p.m. on SportsRadio910.com.
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Chris Graham
