Four pitchers including lefty Adalberto Mejia combined as the Richmond Flying Squirrels (38-31) to blank the Trenton Thunder (37-34), 4-0, on Tuesday night at The Diamond. The meeting was the first between the two teams this season and marked the fifth staff shutout for Richmond.
The Squirrels got off to a rapid start against right-hander Eric Ruth. Kelby Tomlinson started the first inning with a double to right field. Rando Moreno followed and also doubled, to right-center field. Tomlinson had to wait to see if Moreno’s double would fall and advanced only to third. Mac Williamson then brought in Tomlinson for a 1-0 lead with an RBI bounce out to the shortstop.
Richmond added a pair of runs to their lead in the fifth inning. Tomlinson led off with his second double of the night, which Moreno followed with a bunt-single to put runners at the corners. Williamson then walked to load the bases before Devin Harris sent a sacrifice-fly to center field to plate Tomlinson. Ricky Oropesa then made it a 3-0 with an RBI fielder’s choice.
Ruth (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season, charged with three runs over five innings. He conceded six hits, walked three and struck out five.
Meanwhile, Mejia (2-0) was cruising. He fashioned six scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season. He allowed five hits, walked none and struck out three.
The bullpen had no trouble from there, as righties Joan Gregorio and Derek Law each breezed through an easy inning. Lefty Josh Osich finished it off in dominant fashion, retiring the side in order in a non-save situation.
The Squirrels capped the scoring with a run off right-hander Cesar Vargas in the seventh inning. Mitch Delfino knocked it in with an RBI single to right field.
Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday night at The Diamond. RHP Tyler Beede (1-1, 3.06) will make the start against Trenton RHP Brady Lail (3-3, 2.62). The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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