The New Britain Rock Cats (11-6) completed a three-game sweep of the Richmond Flying Squirrels (3-11) with an, 8-6, victory on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. The loss was the ninth straight for Richmond, extending the franchise record for consecutive defeats. It also represents the first time in franchise history that the Squirrels have been swept in three consecutive series.
The Squirrels jumped on top in the top of the first inning, sparked by a game-opening walk issued to Kelby Tomlinson by lefty Ryan Carpenter. Tomlinson moved to second on a groundout and scored from there incredibly on an infield-single from Mitch Delfino.
The lead was short-lived, as the Rock Cats grabbed the lead with a pair of runs off lefty Matt Lujan in the second. Tyler Massey and Jayson Langfels started the inning with back-to-back singles. An out later, Juan Ciriaco tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single to right field. Lujan then retired Carpenter for the second out, but Trevor Story looped a single into right field to plate Langfels for a 2-1 lead.
Jackson Williams offered an individual response in the bottom of the second. With one out, he demolished a fastball from Carpenter, sending a solo-home run to left field. Williams’ first of the year knotted the game, 2-2.
The Rock Cats forged back in front with a pair of doubles in the third. David Dahl started the inning with a double to right-center field. Two outs later, Massey crunched a double to left-center field for a 3-2 advantage.
Richmond squared the game, 3-3, in the fourth. The inning was fueled by Mac Williamson, who opened the inning with a double up the third-base line. Williamson moved to third on a groundout, and came home to even the ballgame on a wild-pitch from Carpenter.
Lujan settled in at the end of his outing. He retired the final seven batters that he faced, calling it a day after five innings. He was charged with three earned runs on seven hits. He issued no walks and struck out three.
The Squirrels squeezed back in front in the fifth. Daniel Carbonell pinch-hit for Lujan to start the inning and was hit by Carpenter. Tomlinson then laid down a sacrifice-bunt that Carpenter fumbled. Carpenter recorded the first out of the inning, but Delfino then cracked a single into center field. Carbonell scored from second for a 4-3 lead.
Carpenter was lifted in the midst of the fifth inning. He was charged with four earned runs on four hits. He walked two, hit another and struck out four. He did not factor in the decision.
New Britain see-sawed back in front in the sixth as righty Pedro Rodriguez came on in relief. Delfino committed an error on a groundball from Noel Cuevas that started trouble. Massey followed and drove a triple through the right-center field alley. Cuevas scored to tie the game, 4-4. Massey then came in for a 5-4 lead on a wild-pitch from Rodriguez. Story delivered a sacrifice fly later in the inning for a 6-4 lead. Rodriguez (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Squirrels.
The Rock Cats iced the win – and sweep in the ninth. After lefty Josh Osich walked Dean Espy to start the inning, Story drilled a two-run home run to right field.
New Britain needed the insurance as right-hander Devin Burke was erratic out of the bullpen to start the bottom of the ninth. He issued back-to-back walks. Both eventually scored, but righty Austin House came on to restore order. House earned his fifth save of the season.
Lefty Jason Gurka (1-0) faced just one batter in the fifth inning, but earned the win by rolling a double-play.
The Squirrels open the second series of their seven-day homestand against the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) on Mondaynight at The Diamond. First pitch of the opener is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Richmond RHP Joe Biagini (0-1, 2.53) will make the start against Reading RHP Ben Lively (0-0, 2.25). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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