Home Richmond Flying Squirrels one W closer to playoff berth with 6-3 win over Erie
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Richmond Flying Squirrels one W closer to playoff berth with 6-3 win over Erie

Chris Graham

richmond flying squirrels A clutch double by Victor Bericoto and a stellar outing by Spencer Bivens pushed the Richmond Flying Squirrels to a 6-3 comeback victory over the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday night at UPMC Park.

The Flying Squirrels (72-62, 39-26), the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, captured their second win of the series and need one more win, or a loss by the Bowie Baysox, to get into the Eastern League postseason.

Tied, 3-3, in the top of the eighth, Yoshi Tsutsugo singled and Hayden Cantrelle replaced him as a pinch runner. After Brady Whalen worked a one-out walk against Andrew Magno (Loss, 3-3), Victor Bericoto blasted a two-RBI double to right center field to push Richmond to a 5-3 lead.

Bivens (Win, 5-4) worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth against the SeaWolves (73-60, 36-29) with two flyouts and a strikeout.

Brandon Martorano rocketed a solo home run to left field to pad the lead to 6-3 in the top of the ninth.

Bivens set down the SeaWolves with two groundouts and a strikeout in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the Richmond win. Bivens worked a season-long six innings with two hits and two walks allowed with six strikeouts.

With runners at first and second and two outs in the first inning, Whalen belted a two-RBI double to right field and jumped the Flying Squirrels to a 2-0 advantage. Whalen has gathered two extra-base hits and three RBIs over two games this week.

After back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the second, Julio Rodriguez launched a three-run homer to left field to send Erie ahead, 3-2.

Brandon Martorano worked a two-out walk in the fourth inning and Ismael Munguia brought him home with an RBI double to even the score, 3-3. Munguia finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk, one run and two stolen bases.

The Flying Squirrels will face the SeaWolves on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Left-handed pitcher John Michael Bertrand (1-3, 5.28) will start for Richmond opposed by Erie right-hander Ty Madden (3-4, 3.55).

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].