Top Pirates prospect Tyler Glasnow cruises past Richmond, 5-0

Altoona right-hander Tyler Glasnow cruised through seven innings to blank the Squirrels 5-0 in the series opener on Thursday night at The Diamond. Richmond (45-44) was able to muster only three hits against Glasnow, the top prospect in the Pirates system.  The Squirrels utilized six different pitchers in the loss. The two teams will continue the series  with a doubleheader on Friday night with first pitch of game one set for 5:35 PM.

Glasnow was exceptional in his 10^th start of the season with the Curve. He retired the first 10 batters he faced up until Austin Slater doubled down the right field line in the fourth. Glasnow (4-2) earned the win by tossing seven shutout innings. The lanky righty finished with no walks and a season-high nine strikeouts. Relievers Johndaniel Medina and Brett McKinney tossed the final two innings two close the win.

Altoona jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Squirrels starting pitcher Edwin Quirarte. With one out in the first, Altoona second baseman Max Moroff tripled on a ball that popped out of right fielder Hunter Cole’s glove as he slammed into the wall. Josh Bell singled Moroff home and Jose Osuna followed with a towering two run homer to left.

Quirarte (0-2) rebounded after the difficult first inning. He allowed an unearned run in the fourth as Dan Gamache reached on an error top open the frame and scored on a double to left center from Mel Rojas Jr.. Quirarte lasted four innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits. Quirarte struck out a season-high-tying six batters.

Phil McCormick replaced Quirarte on the mound in the fifth inning. McCormick allowed a double to Moroff and then the second RBI hit of the night from Bell. McCormick then induced a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded to allow just the one run in the fifth. Stephen Johnson, Joan Gregorio, Braulio Lara and Kyle Crick all tossed scoreless innings of relief for Richmond.

The Squirrels continue the homestand on Friday with a doubleheader against the Altoona Curve beginning at 5:35 PM.  Richmond LHP Kelvin Marte (7-2, 2.54) will throw game one for the Squirrels against Curve RHP Chad Kuhl (7-3, 2.89). Both game two starters are TBD. The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 5:00 PM on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.