Richmond makes it 11 of 13

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (60-60) rolled to a, 5-1, win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (56-62) on Sunday afternoon at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.  The victory completes a series win for Richmond over New Hampshire as well as a 5-1 road trip.  The Squirrels have won 11-of-13 ballgames and are now just 3 ½ games out of wild-card position in the Western Division.

After three scoreless innings, the Squirrels got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning.  With one out, right-hander Marcus Stroman walked Jarrett Parker.  Juan Ciriaco followed and decked a two-run home run to right field.  Ciriaco’s first as a Squirrel gave Richmond a 2-0 lead.

The Squirrels tacked on a run in the fifth inning.  Joe Panik led off with a single.  He was thrown out at the plate trying to score when Javier Herrera followed with a double off the center field wall.  However, with two outs, Adam Duvall squeezed a single back through the middle to bring in Herrera for a 3-0 lead.

Left-hander Jack Snodgrass (10-4) was tremendous, shutting out the Fisher Cats into the sixth inning.  However, after allowing a one-out double to Kenny Wilson, he departed due to a groin strain.  However, he had gone far enough to earn the win, his team-leading 10^th of the season.  He conceded just three hits, walked none and struck out one.

Richmond chased Stroman in the seventh inning.  Panik supplied a one-out single to get the Squirrels started.  Herrera then launched a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right-center field.  Herrera tied Parker for the team lead with his 15^th home run of the year.  Herrera finished the day with three extra-base hits off Stroman (2 2B, HR).

Stroman (6-4) was saddled with the loss.  He conceded five earned runs on a career-high 11 hits.  He walked one and struck out four.

Right-hander Jose Valdez was forced into action due to the injury to Snodgrass and pitched well in relief.  He worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings to bridge the ballgame to the ninth inning.  He allowed just two hits, walked none and struck out two.

Right-hander Edwin Quirarte came on to finish the ballgame in the ninth inning.  He conceded a solo-home run to Brad Glenn, but closed it out without further incident.

The Squirrels will return to Richmond on Sunday night.  They will enjoy their final off day of the season on Monday before playing a stretch of 21 games in 21 days to finish the 2013 regular season.  That will begin with the opener of a three-game series against the Akron Aeros (Cleveland Indians) at The Diamond on Tuesday night.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.