The Richmond Flying Squirrels (47-54) and Erie SeaWolves (49-53) split a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at UPMC Park in Erie, PA. Richmond dropped the first game 5-1 and rebounded to snap a seven-game losing streak with a 7-5 win in game two. Aramis Garcia, Dylan Davis and Luigi Rodriguez all homered for Richmond in the twin bill. Richmond wrapped the seven-game road trip 1-6 and will return to The Diamond for a four-game series beginning on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Thursday in Funnville includes a celebrity appearance from former Virginia Tech football head coach Frank Beamer. In-Your-Face Fireworks follow the contest, presented by Wawa
Game Two
The Flying Squirrels struck for six runs over the fourth and fifth innings and held on late to snap their seven-game slide in a 7-5 win over Erie in game two of Wednesdays doubleheader. Trailing 2-0 in the fourth, Luigi Rodriguez cranked a three-run homer over the right field wall to give Richmond their first lead of the series. It was the 11th home run of the season for Rodriguez.
Erie pushed across a pair of runs to take a 2-0 on Richmond starter Chris Heston in the second inning. Heston allowed a sacrifice fly to Josh Thole and an RBI base hit to Danny Woodrow in the frame. The veteran saw his pitch count rise and was removed after he worked two innings and tossed 40 pitches.
Richmond grabbed the lead on Rodriguez’ homer in the fourth. Erie quickly countered with a run in the third when Will Maddox doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Squirrels responded with three runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth. Caleb Gindl stroked an RBI double into the gap in left centerfield for a 4-3 advantage. Gindl scored on a sacrifice fly and Dylan Davis added a solo home run for a 6-3 lead. Davis lined his 10th home run of the year over the right field fence.
The Richmond bullpen cobbled together the final five innings to snap the slide. Ryan Halstead (1.1IP, H, R), Dusten Knight (1.1, 0H,0R), Carlos Diaz (1.1, H, 2R) and Dillon McNamara (IP, 0H,0R) all pitched in relief. Knight earned the win while McNamara nailed down his fifth save of the year.
GAME ONE
Erie RHP Alfred Gutierrez limited Richmond to just one run over 5.2 innings and Isaac Parades drilled a first inning grand slam to down the Squirrels 5-1 in game one on Wednesday at UPMC Park. Richmond’s lone run was driven when Aramis Garcia drilled a home run off the Arena wall in left field. Garcia’s 11th home run of the season occurred in the second inning.
Gutierrez (2-1) earned his second win of the year in just his third start with Erie. The 23-year-old allowed the one run on four hits. He stuck out one and walked two while tossing 84 pitches. R
Parades grand slam in the first inning sent Richmond starter Taylor Hill to his fifth defeat of the year. Erie took advantage of an error followed by a Daz Cameron base hit and a walk to load the bases. Parades then drilled his first Double-A homer over the line in left for a 4-0 Erie lead.
Hill would go on to retire the next ten batters for Richmond. The veteran lasted 4.2 innings and departed with runners on base in the fifth. Reliever Sam Wolff entered and walked a man before striking out Jake Rogers to end the inning. Hill (0-5) suffered the loss for Richmond. He allowed five runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.
Wolff finished the fifth and tossed a scoreless sixth inning out of the ‘pen. He walked two and struck out a pair in the effort.
Richmond now returns home to begin a four-game series on Thursday against the Reading Fighting Phils. Left-hander Conner Menez (3-3, 4.08) is slated to make the start for Richmond against Reading RHP Connor Seabold. Thursday in Funnville includes a celebrity appearance from former Virginia Tech football head coach Frank Beamer. Beamer joins Virginia Tech Night driven by AAA. In-Your-Face Fireworks follow the contest, presented by Wawa. Tickets and information can be found at www.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN (3884)
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