Snodgrass leads Richmond to win over Erie

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (39-39) cruised behind All-Star lefty Jack Snodgrass to a, 3-1, victory over the Erie SeaWolves (39-38) on Thursday night at Jerry Uht Park.  The Squirrels return to .500 with the win, their fourth straight over Erie.

The Squirrels used a two-out error to take the game’s first lead in the second inning.  Ehire Adrianza sent a seemingly harmless ground ball to first base.  However, it went right through the wickets of first baseman James Robbins.  Adrianza then stole second base and scored for a 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Jarrett Parker.  The run was unearned against Erie right-hander Jon Link.

Snodgrass cruised through the first three innings, facing the minimum. However, he grazed Jamie Johnson with a pitch to start the fourth.  Snodgrass then balked Johnson to second base and he advanced to third on a fly out from Eugenio Suarez.  Hernan Perez followed and singled back through the middle to tie the ballgame, 1-1.  Perez’s single was the first hit conceded by Snodgrass.

Mark Minicozzi got the Squirrels started in the sixth inning as they reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs against Link.  Minicozzi reached on an infield-single.  Ricky Oropesa then roped a double off the top of the wall in center field.  Minicozzi came all the way around from first base for a 2-1 lead.  Link got the first two outs, but Parker cranked a double into the right-field corner to plate Oropesa and stretch the lead to 3-1.  Parker finished the night 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Link (0-1) worked a solid seven innings, allowing three earned runs on a scattered 10 hits.  He walked one, struck out four and was tagged with his first loss of the season.

Snodgrass (7-3) lasted 7 2/3 innings in his latest gem, conceding just a lone run on four hits.  He walked one and established a new career-high with eight strikeouts.  He never faced trouble in the outing, throwing a season-high 108 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Lefty Phil McCormick came on to strike out Johnson for the final out of the eighth inning.  Right-hander Edwin Quirarte – recently named as the Squirrels’ new closer – came on for the ninth.  He retired the side in order to earn his seventh save of the year.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Jerry Uht Park on Friday night.  Richmond LHP Carlos Teller (1-3, 3.51) will make the start against Erie LHP Matt Crouse (4-6, 4.35). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio at 6:35 p.m.