The Trenton Thunder (7-3) completed a four-game sweep of the Richmond Flying Squirrels (4-7) with an emphatic, 15-1, win on Sunday afternoon at ARM & HAMMER Park. The loss for the Squirrels established a new franchise record for most lop-sided defeat and also extended Richmond’s losing streak to six games. That string matches the longest losing skid in the short history of the franchise as well.
The Thunder roared out of the starting blocks, and built an insurmountable lead after three innings. It started with a whisper in the first inning however, as Richmond right-hander Craig Westcott allowed a lone run. Ramon Flores led off the ballgame with a single and later scored for a 1-0 lead on a single from J.R. Murphy.
Rob Segedin opened the floodgates as the Thunder chased Westcott in the second inning. Segedin doubled down the first-base line, serving as the first of a parade of 10 batters that came to the plate. A batter later Kevin Mahoney single to bring in Segedin for a 2-0 advantage. Walter Ibarra then singled and Flores provided a two-run single that stretched the lead to 4-0. Westcott then issued a walk to Jose Pirela, and Tyler Austin capped a five-run inning with a two-run single.
Westcott issued one additional walk before he was removed in the second in favor of right-hander Fabio Castillo. In one of his roughest outings as a Squirrel, Westcott (0-1) took the loss over just an-inning-and-two-thirds. He was tagged for six earned runs on seven hits, walked three, issued two wild pitches and struck out none.
Trenton then turned the ballgame into a rout with three runs charged to Castillo in the third inning. Flores contributed a sacrifice fly, and Austin tacked on a two-run single for a 9-0 lead. Castillo pitched into the fifth inning and issued back-to-back one-out walks. He was lifted in favor of Omar Javier, who allowed both inherited runners to score on a two-run single from J.R. Murphy. Both runs were unearned against Castillo, but he was charged with five total runs over 2 2/3 innings. Castillo actually threw as many pitches (58) in the ballgame as Westcott did.
The Squirrels got their only run of the ballgame in the fourth inning off Trenton starter Caleb Cotham. Javier Herrera knocked in the run with a fielder’s choice groundout. Cotham didn’t register a decision, working just four innings, and coming up short of eligibility for the win. The win went to the pitcher that followed Cotham, lefty Schaeffer Hall (2-0). Hall worked an inning of scoreless relief, right-hander Kelvin Perez worked two, and lefty Josh Romanski finished off the ballgame with two.
The Thunder capped the scoring with three more earned runs against Javier in the sixth inning. Austin finished the day with five runs batted in, while Murphy and Flores each notched four RBIs. Ibarra scored four times in the ballgame, while three other Thunder hitters scored three times.
The Squirrels travel to Altoona, PA, to continue their week-long road trip. They will open a three-game series with the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) on Monday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. as Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (1-0, 3.86) makes the start against Altoona RHP Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 7.45). Pregame coverage begins on SportsRadio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio at 6:30 p.m.
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