Richmond Flying Squirrels nip New Britain, 3-2

In a rematch of left-handers Jack Snodrass and Pat Dean, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (32-25) flipped the script and defeated the New Britain Rock Cats (28-31), 3-2, at The Diamond on Wednesday night.  New Britain had claimed the first meeting between the two southpaws six days prior at New Britain Stadium.  With the win, the Squirrels leveled the three-game series at a game apiece.

Both offenses were held in check through three innings as Snodgrass and Dean dueled in the early going.  However, the Squirrels jumped in front with an unearned run in the fourth inning.  Adam Duvall led off the inning with a triple off the wall in left field.  Dean recorded the first two outs without Duvall coming home, but an error committed by third baseman Mark Sobolewski allowed him to come in for a 1-0 lead.

The lead didn’t last long.  Snodgrass had retired 11 consecutive batters prior to Josmil Pinto, who led off the fifth.  Pinto snapped that streak and tied the ballgame when he decked his 10^th home run of the season.  The solo-shot to left-center field knotted the ballgame, 1-1.  It marked Pinto’s third home run of the year against the Squirrels and the first conceded by Snodgrass on the season.

Richmond gained control of the ballgame with two runs against Dean in the sixth inning.  Dean opened the door a crack when he issued a one-out walk to Mark Minicozzi.  An out later, Andrew Susac singled into center field.  Ehire Adrianza brought in Minicozzi with a single flared to right-center and Ryan Lollis made it 3-1 Squirrels when he poked a single through the left-side of the infield.

Dean (3-6) was removed after 6 2/3 innings.  Despite another strong showing against the Squirrels, he was doomed to the loss, his sixth of the year.  He was charged with three runs – two earned – on seven hits.  He walked one and struck out three.

Snodgrass (5-1) took his latest gem into the eighth inning, earning his fifth win of the season over 7 1/3 innings.  He conceded a second run in the eighth, but ultimately only allowed six hits.  He walked none and struck out two.

Right-hander Daryl Maday came on to nail it down, casually retiring all five batters that he faced.  Maday earned his 12^thsave on the year and is now just one shy of the Eastern League lead.  Maday following Snodgrass was the same recipe used by Richmond to no-hit the Rock Cats on April 5^th, which was the Double-A debut for Snodgrass.

The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Thursday night at The Diamond.  Richmond LHP Carlos Teller (1-0, 2.45) will make the start against New Britain RHP Trevor May (4-2, 4.17).  The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup begins at 6:05 p.m. on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio.