Down to their final strike, the Reading Fightins (26-39) battled back for a 10-inning, 3-1, victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels (34-31) in front of 9,349 at The Diamond on Friday night. The loss extended the Squirrels’ losing-skid to five games.
The Squirrels were able to scratch across a run against heralded lefty Jesse Biddle in the first inning. Joe Panik worked a walk from Biddle with one out and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Adam Duvall battled to a count of 2-2, and finally poked an RBI single into right field. Panik scored for a 1-0 lead.
Biddle and Richmond lefty Chris Gloor battled through the early-going. Biddle was challenged by the Squirrels, and departed after five laborious but ultimately successful innings. He was charged with just the lone run on five hits, walked three and struck out seven. He was spared the decision by the Fightins rally in the ninth.
That rally came against Richmond right-handed closer Daryl Maday. Tyler Henson led off the ninth with a single. Maday got the first two outs, but Derrick Mitchell laced an RBI double to left field to tie the ballgame, 1-1. Maday was charged with his fourth blown save, but recovered to keep the game tied to the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Squirrels did not score in the ninth, and the game headed to the 10th as Richmond summoned righty Edwin Quirarte. Albert Cartwright started the inning with an infield-single and Quirarte balked him to second. Edgar Duran failed in two attempts to lay down a sacrifice bunt. However, he tugged an RBI double just fair up the first-base line to score Duran. The double proved to be the game-winner. Reading did tack on an insurance run on a groundout from Tyler Henson.
Quirarte (1-4) was saddled with the loss, charged with two runs over an inning. Reading righty Mike Nesseth (1-0) earned the win, working two scoreless innings of relief. The Fightins used five pitchers in the ballgame, including four relievers. The bullpen combined to throw five scoreless innings.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Saturday night at The Diamond. Richmond RHP Craig Westcott (3-6, 3.71) will make the start against Reading RHP David Buchanan (2-7, 4.96). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warm Up begins at 5:35 p.m. on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio.
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Chris Graham
