The Richmond Flying Squirrels (37-42) snapped the longest losing-streak in franchise history, defeating the Reading Phillies (44-34), 5-2, on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Richmond had dropped its past six ballgames, including the first two in their current four-game series.
The Squirrels got off to a quick start against Reading right-hander Jordan Whatcott, plating a pair of runs in the first inning. Whatcott opened the ballgame with a four-pitch walk to Juan Perez. Daniel Mayora followed with a single to put runners on the corners and Mark Minicozzi delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to put Richmond on the board. Tommy Joseph forced Mayora, but Russ Mitchell singled into right field. Ryan Cavan, celebrating his 25th birthday, followed and singled into center field for a 2-0 lead.
In a flash, Minicozzi made it 3-0 as he led off in the third inning. He ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Whatcott and sent his second home run of the series to left field. Minicozzi, who also homered on Wednesday, now has five home runs with the Squirrels in just 24 games.
Left-hander Chris Gloor made his first start of the season for the Squirrels and turned in four scoreless innings. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out one. He left with the lead, but was not eligible for a decision.
Whatcott (1-1) settled down over his final two innings on the mound, and ultimately turned in five innings. However, he took the loss after conceding three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two.
The R-Phils got on the board for the first time against Gloor’s replacement, right-hander Daryl Maday, in the fifth inning. D’Arby Myers pinch-hit for Whatcott and led off with a single. Jiwan James followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Maday attempted to go to first base and threw wildly. The error allowed Myers to score and James to move to second. He scored on a pair of deep fly balls to trim the Richmond lead to a lone run.
The Squirrels added a run back to their lead off of right-hander Juan Morillo in the sixth inning. With one out, Ehire Adrianza doubled off the left-field wall. Juan Ciriaco followed and flared an RBI single into right-center field. Adrianza came in from second for a 4-2 lead.
Richmond got the other run they lost off their three-run lead back in the eighth inning off of lefty Frank Gailey. Mitchell led off with a double off the wall in left. Cavan moved him to third with a groundout, and manager Dave Machemer called for the suicide-squeeze with Adrianza at the plate. He got the bunt down, scoring Mitchell and reaching with a bunt-single.
Maday (3-5) settled into a groove and took the ballgame all the way to the ninth inning with four innings of relief. It was the longest outing of the season for Maday, as he earned his third victory of the season. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked none and struck out one.
Right-hander Brett Bochy faced the minimum as he earned his ninth save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The finale of the four-game series in Baseballtown is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Richmond RHP Craig Westcott (6-5, 3.80) will oppose Reading RHP Austin Hyatt (1-2, 6.93). Pregame coverage will begin at 6:35 PM on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.
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Chris Graham
