The Richmond Flying Squirrels (28-26) trailed most of the afternoon, but pushed past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats late, 4-1, to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. With the win, the Squirrels are two games above .500 for the first time since they were 2-0 after the first two games of the year. They completed the lengthiest road trip in franchise history with a 7-3 record and now return home where they will play 15 of their next 18 games.
The Fisher Cats struck first for the first time in the series, grabbing a run off lefty Matt Lujan in the first. Dalton Pompey started the inning with a leadoff infield-single. He was bunted to second by Jorge Flores and scored when Melky Mesa floated a soft-single to right field.
Left-hander John Anderson was in complete control over the first six innings. He limited the Squirrels to just a lone hit and two total base runners. At one point, he retired 14 consecutive Richmond hitters. However, things unraveled on him in the seventh as Richmond took a 3-1 lead. Anderson started his own problems with a leadoff walk issued to Mac Williamson. Devin Harris followed and doubled to right-center field to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Anderson recovered to record the first two outs, but Myles Schroder then lifted a three-run home run just inside the left-field foul pole. Schroder’s second of the year was controversial, and led to the ejections of both New Hampshire manager Bobby Meachem and Pitching Coach Bob Stanley.
Anderson (1-3) was charged with three earned runs on four hits across 6 2/3 innings. He walked two, struck out three and took the hard-luck loss, his third.
Lujan battled through adversity early, and settled in late. All told, he allowed just the lone run on seven hits. He did not walk a batter, and struck out a season-high eight. He retired 10 of the final 11 hitters that he faced en route to the win, his fourth.
Right-hander Tyler Mizenko recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning before handing it off to righty Stephen Johnson. Johnson struck out the side in a scoreless eighth inning. Lefty Josh Osich then converted his 13th consecutive save and 14th overall by fanning the side in order in the ninth. It was nearly in immaculate inning for Osich, who needed just 10 pitches to strike out the three batters.
The Squirrels will return to RVA to enjoy a scheduled off day on Monday. San Francisco RHP Matt Cain (0-0, —) is scheduled to make a rehab start for the Squirrels as they open a three-game series with the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) at The Diamond on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Justin Haley (1-7, 5.75) will start for Portland. The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
