Trailing to the ninth inning, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (57-59) dramatically plated three runs to defeat the Portland Sea Dogs (56-60), 5-3, at Hadlock Field on Wednesday night. The win also nets the Squirrels the series and marks their fifth straight victory over Portland. Richmond has won four in a row and eight of their last nine.
The winning rally occurred against left-hander Rafael Perez. Leading 3-2, Perez issued a lead-off walk to Mark Minicozzi. Adam Duvall followed and battled Perez to a 2-2 count. He then blasted a towering two-run home run over the Maine Monster in left field. His 13th of the season gave the Squirrels the lead, 4-3. For good measure, Jarrett Parker followed with a high-arching solo-shot to right-center field. The back-to-back home runs gave the Squirrels a 5-3 advantage. Perez (2-2) was saddled with the loss for Portland.
Derrick Gibson got the Sea Dogs started immediately against Richmond lefty Chris Gloor. Gibson doubled on one hop off the left-field wall to open the Portland first inning. An out later, Garin Cecchini singled into left field to plate Gibson for a 1-0 lead. Gloor would eventually minimize the damage to the lone run as he stranded the bases loaded.
The Sea Dogs tacked on a run against Gloor in the third inning. Shannon Wilkerson led off and yanked a double up the third-base line. He moved to third on a ground out and scored for a 2-0 lead when Michael Almanzar launched a single high off the Maine Monster in left field.
Portland left-hander Chris Hernandez held off the Squirrels through the first four innings. However, Adam Duvall got Richmond started with a lead-off double to the right-field corner in the fifth inning. Two outs later, Jesus Navarro knocked him in with a single to right field to cut the deficit to a lone run, 2-1.
Hernandez worked into the seventh inning. He lasted 6 1/3 innings, allowing just the lone run on four hits. He walked one, struck out four, and did not factor in the decision.
Gloor (8-6) rebounded from his early troubles and retired the final 11 batters that he faced. He allowed just two runs over seven innings. Gloor surrendered seven hits, walked one and struck out six. He did not factor in the decision.
Richmond rallied to tie the ballgame in the top of the eighth inning against rehabbing lefty Franklin Morales. Skyler Stromsmoe pinch-hit to start the frame and doubled. He was bunted to third by Kelby Tomlinson. Portland brought on Perez and Joe Panik greeted him with a sacrifice fly to right field.
However, the Sea Dogs hurriedly reclaimed their lost lead in the bottom of the eighth. Left-hander Josh Osich came on for Gloor and struck out the first batter. However, Wilkerson singled back through the middle with one out. Cecchini then delivered a double to the left-field corner. Wilkerson sprinted all the way around from first base for a 3-2 lead. Despite conceding the run, Osich (1-2) earned the win for the Squirrels.
Right-hander Cody Hall came on for the ninth inning and set aside the Sea Dogs in order for his sixth save of the season. The final out came on a highlight-reel diving catch from Javier Herrera to end the ballgame.
The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Hadlock Field on Thursday afternoon. Richmond RHP Craig Westcott (4-11, 4.37) will make the start against Portland RHP Terry Doyle (1-3, 4.19). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin on Sports Radio 910, www.sportsradio910.com and IHeart Radio at 11:30 a.m.
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