The New Britain Rock Cats (39-31) scored six times in the fourth inning and defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels (37-31), 7-3, on Mondayafternoon at The Diamond. The Squirrels did win the series, three games to two and are 13-1-1 in their last 14 series.
Richmond struck first against right-hander Shane Carle in the second inning. Mitch Delfino led off and sprayed a double into right field. Ricky Oropesa followed and cranked an RBI double off the wall in left field. Delfino came around from first for a 1-0 lead.
Right-hander Joe Biagini held the Rock Cats without a hit through the first three innings. However, disaster struck in the fourth. Mike Tauchman led off with a single and was bunted to second base. Biagini then surrendered five consecutive singles to Will Swanner, Jeremy Barfield, Jayson Langfels, Juan Ciriaco and Jordan Ribera. Barfield, Ciriaco and Ribera all collected RBIs as New Britain gained a 3-1 advantage. An additional two runs scored when Myles Schroder misplayed a ground ball from Carle. The Rock Cats capped an 11-batter, six-run inning when Pat Valaika knocked in a run with a fielder’s choice groundout.
Biagini (6-4) did not survive the fourth, charged with six runs – four earned – across 3 2/3 innings. He conceded six hits, walked one and struck out just one. He suffered his first loss in five starts, and his fourth overall.
The Squirrels offered a partial response in the bottom of the fourth, plating two additional runs off of Carle. Mac Williamson started the frame with a single to right field. Delfino then doubled to deep-left field to put runners at second and third. Oropesa followed with his second double of the day, two-run bullet up the right-field line. Following four innings, the Rock Cats held a 6-3 lead. Oropesa finished the day 4-for-4 with three runs batted in.
Carle (8-4) maneuvered through seven innings for the win. He did so despite allowing 10 hits. He limited the Squirrels to three earned runs, walked none and struck out three.
New Britain finished the scoring for the day with a run against lefty Carlos Diaz in the sixth inning. Valaika knocked it in with an RBI single.
Left-hander Kraig Sitton took it the rest of the way for the Rock Cats. He turned in two scoreless innings in a non-save situation.
The Squirrels begin the second series of their nine-game homestand at 6:35 p.m. at The Diamond on Tuesday night against the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees). Richmond LHP Adalberto Mejia (1-0, 2.31) will make the start against New Britain RHP Eric Ruth (5-0, 1.71). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
