The Richmond Flying Squirrels (33-28) rode a special pitching performance from right-hander Joe Biagini to a, 1-0, shutout win over the Harrisburg Senators (27-36) on Tuesday night at Metro Bank Park. With the win, the Squirrels improved to 4-0 against Harrisburg and moved to five games over .500 for the first time on the year. The shutout was their third of the season.
Both starting pitchers were outstanding. Harrisburg right-hander Austin Voth breezed through seven scoreless innings, allowing just three singles. He walked one, hit another and struck out three. He did not allow a runner past second base during his seven innings on the hill.
Biagini (6-3) was even better. He worked a career-high matching eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. He retired the final 21 batters he faced. The two hits he allowed were an infield-single and a blooper. He walked one and struck out a season-high seven. He earned his fourth consecutive victory and sixth in his last seven starts.
The Squirrels scored the only run of the ballgame in the top of the ninth inning. It was an unearned run for Richmond, charged to righty Paul Demny (2-3), who took the loss. Angel Villalona reached on an error with one out to start the uprising. Myles Schroder then delivered a single to right-center field to put runners at the corners. Eliezer Zambrano then sent a groundball to first base. The Senators gambled and tried to turn two. That gamble back-fired when Zambrano beat it out on the backend. Villalona rumbled across with the eventual winning run.
Lefty Josh Osich worked through the Senators in order in the ninth. The final out was drilled to the base of the centerfield-wall by Matt Skole. However, Engel Beltre had just enough room to make the game-clinching catch. Osich collected his 17th save of the year, and 16th since May 5th.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Metro Bank Park on Wednesday afternoon. Richmond LHP Adalberto Mejia (0-0, 2.70) will make the start against Harrisburg RHP Stephen Strasburg (0-0, —), who will be making an MLB rehab appearance. The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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