Attempting to complete a doubleheader, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (35-30) and New Britain Rock Cats (38-29) were able to get in only game one at The Diamond on Saturday night. The Rock Cats claimed game one, 6-2, before severe rain and wind buffeted the ballpark, rendering the playing surface unplayable. A doubleheader has now been scheduled for 1:35 p.m. on Sunday. The doubleheader will consist of two seven-inning games. Fans holding tickets for Saturday night’s postponed game may redeem them at The Diamond box office for tickets to any remaining regular season opening – based upon availability.
The Squirrels struck first in game one, plating a run off right-hander Bryan Evans in the second inning. Devin Harris led off the inning with a double scorched up the left-field line. Two batters later, Engel Beltre singled to right-center field to bring in Harris for a 1-0 lead.
Lefty Matt Lujan battled through three scoreless innings, but eventually broke in the fourth. He recorded the first out, but Will Swanner, Juan Ciriaco and Jeremy Barfield followed with three consecutive singles to load the bases. Jayson Langfels then tied the game, 1-1, with a sacrifice-fly to center field. Evans followed and aided his own cause with an RBI single to center field that put New Britain in front, 2-1. Lujan then walked Mike Tauchman to reload the bases. Noel Cuevas delivered a two-run single to left-center field for a 4-1 lead.
Lujan (5-5) retired for the night after four innings. He was saddled with his fifth loss, charged with four earned runs on seven hits. He matched a season-high with four walks and struck out three.
Evans (4-2) got stronger as he went along, turning in six innings for the win, his fourth. He surrendered just the lone run on four hits. He walked none, hit one and struck out four.
The Rock Cats tacked on their final two runs of game one off of right-hander Joan Gregorio in the top of the seventh inning. Richmond capped the scoring with a seventh-inning run against righty Carlos Estevez. Estevez recovered to finish the ballgame in a non-save situation.
Games three and four of the five-game series are now scheduled for 1:35 p.m. at The Diamond on Sunday afternoon. Richmond RHP Edwin Quirarte (0-0, 4.87) will make the start in game one against New Britain RHP Brett Marshall (0-1, 5.71). Richmond will throw RHP Pedro Rodriguez (2-3, 3.06) in game two against RHP Ryan Arrowood (0-1, 23.14). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 1:05 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
