Richmond right-hander Craig Westcott delivered seven strong innings on the mound and also a home run at the plate, leading the Flying Squirrels (16-17) to an, 8-2, win over the Harrisburg Senators (17-15) on Wednesday afternoon at Metro Bank Park.
The Senators got off to a quick start against Westcott in the bottom of the first inning. Jeff Kobernus led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild-pitch and third on a passed ball. Destin Hood delivered an RBI single and the Senators were in front, 1-0.
Westcott and the Squirrels exacted revenge in the top of the second inning off of Harrisburg right-hander Paul Demny. Chris Dominguez started the inning with a double pulled into the left-field corner. Demny recovered to strikeout the next two batters, but Wendell Fairley laced an RBI double into the left-center to bring in Dominguez. Westcott followed and drilled a two-run home run to right field. His first professional home run put the Squirrels on top, 3-1. It also marked the first home run of the season for a Richmond pitcher.
Both starters settled down, but another long-ball from an unlikely source stretched the Richmond lead to five runs in the sixth inning. Demny allowed back-to-back singles to Tommy Joseph and Daniel Mayora to open the inning. He got the first out of the inning, but was lifted in favor of left-hander Pat McCoy. McCoy retired Johnny Monell, but Joel Weeks blasted a three-run home run to right field for a 6-1 lead. It was Weeks’ first home run of the season and just his second over the last two seasons.
Richmond tacked on another run in the seventh inning to lead 7-1. Joseph notched his second hit of the day with a single. Dominguez then drilled his second double of the day off the wall in left-center field. Joseph scored from first base on the play.
Demny (2-2) was tagged with his second loss of the season over 5 1/3 innings. He was charged with five runs – all earned – on five hits. He walked three and struck out seven. McCoy surrendered a run on Weeks’ drive in relief.
Westcott (3-2) turned in his longest outing of the season and earned his third win over seven innings. He allowed only the first-inning run on six hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Both teams plated a run in the eighth inning. Fairley notched his third hit of the day to drive home Weeks, who had been walked by right-hander Marcos Frias. Fairley finished the day 3-4 with a pair of RBIs. Harrisburg collected a run against right-hander Austin Fleet in the eighth inning. Lefty Chris Gloor finished the win for Richmond with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Squirrels return to Richmond to open a four-game series with the Bowie Baysox at The Diamond on Thursday night at 6:35 PM. Richmond LHP Jason Stevenson (1-4, 7.20) will make the start opposite Bowie RHP Eddie Gamboa (2-0, 1.86). Tickets are available and can be purchased at SquirrelsBaseball.com.
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Chris Graham
