The Reading Fightin Phils (11-7) edged the Richmond Flying Squirrels (3-13), 3-2, at The Diamond on Tuesday night. The loss extended the Squirrels’ franchise-record losing skid to 11 games. The Fightins improved to 5-0 against the Squirrels this season, as Richmond dropped their fifth one-run game of the year. Richmond also remains winless against the Eastern Division (0-8)
The Fightins struck first in the top of the third inning against right-hander Chris Stratton. KC Serna sparked the inning with a leadoff single. After a sacrifice-bunt from Aaron Nola, Roman Quinn drove an RBI triple through the left-center field alley for a 1-0 lead. Stratton struck out Tony Thomas, but walked Aaron Altherr. That allowed Art Charles to come to the plate. He delivered an RBI single to center field that plated Quinn for a 2-0 lead.
Rando Moreno led off the Richmond third with the Squirrels first hit off Nola, a triple to right-center field. Stratton struck out, but Kelby Tomlinson drilled a double into the left-field corner. Moreno scored to cut the Reading lead in half, 2-1.
Harold Martinez punched a leadoff triple to the right-field corner off Stratton in the seventh. Stratton got the first out of the inning before intentionally walking Serna to put runners at the corners. That brought Nola to the plate. He laid down a bunt to the first-base side of the mound. Stratton desperately tried to flip the ball to the plate, but couldn’t get Martinez as he scored for a 3-1 Reading lead.
Stratton (0-3) departed during the uprising, charged with three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. He permitted five hits and walked five, one intentionally. He struck out five, but took the loss in what was the longest outing of the year for a Squirrels’ starter.
Nola (2-2) worked into the eighth inning to earn the win, his second. He permitted a second run in the eighth – unearned. That occurred when Moreno led off with a bunt-single. Devin Harris then pinch-hit and delivered a single to put two aboard. Nola departed in favor of righty Mike Nesseth. He got the first two outs, but Moreno eventually scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to a lone run, 3-2. Nesseth finished off the inning however, and the Squirrels got no closer. Nola collected his second win against the Squirrels, charged with two runs – one earned – on five hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.
Right-hander Steven Shackleford allowed a single to Myles Schroder in the ninth, but finished off the win and earned his third save of the year.
The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. at The Diamond on Wednesday morning. Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (1-2, 6.08) will make the start against Reading LHP Jesse Biddle (2-0, 2.76). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
