Flying Squirrels hurlers Logan Webb, Sam Wolff and Garrett Williams combined to shutdown the Hartford Yard Goats (55-65) in a 3-0 win on Friday night at The Diamond. Webb struck out a career-high nine batters to set the tone for the Squirrels (58-63) in their sixth shutout of the season. Webb picked up his first Double-A win and Williams worked the final two innings and earned his first career save. The Flying Squirrels continue their five-game homestand with game two of three against the Hartford Yard Goats on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Saturday in Funnville also features a Bruce Springsteen-themed In-your-Face Fireworks show.
Webb was overpowering throughout his third Double-A start. Webb struck out the side in the first inning by using a pair of curveballs to fan Omar Carrizales and Dom Nunez. Webb then fired a 95 MPH fastball that Drew Weeks swung through for strike three. Webb managed to repeated the prestigious feat in the second inning, after he allowed a pair of scratch singles. Hartford’s first non-strikeout out occurred on a soft groundball off the bat of Frank Duncan to begin the third.
Speaking of Duncan, he needed just eight pitches to retire the side in the first inning but was dinged for a run in the bottom of the second. Ali Castillo drilled a double to left centerfield and with two outs Matt Winn collected his second RBI of the year with a base hit up the middle for a 1-0 advantage.
The Squirrels made it a 2-0 lead in the fourth with a pair of doubles off Duncan. Jonah Arenado opened the inning with a gap shot to left center field – his 17th double of the year. Ali Castillo moved Arenado to third on a sacrifice bunt, but it was not needed as Caleb Gindl followed with a double up the right field line to score Arenado .
Webb remained nearly untouchable and remarkably struck out the side AGAIN in the top of the fifth. The 21-year-old used 67 pitches over the first five frames and returned to the mound to begin the sixth. After Webb picked up the first out of the inning on a long fly ball, Dom Nunez lined a base hit and Webb walked Drew Weeks to end his longest outing since returning from Tommy John surgery. Sam Wolff entered with the tying runs on base in the sixth and tossed one pitch to escape the inning with a double play.
Webb (1-0) tossed 5.1 frames and did not allow a run on five hits. The righty walked one and struck out a career-high nine batters on 84 pitches.
Wolf worked 1.2 scoreless frames in relief and induced a pair of double plays, earning a hold. Williams also used a double play to escape the eighth inning. The lefty allowed a two-out single in the ninth before retiring the final batter to end the game and earn his first career save.
Richmond produced their third and final run of the day in the sixth inning. Luigi Rodriguez walked and stole second. He came around to score on a two-out single into center from Ali Castillo.
The Flying Squirrels continue their five-game homestand with game two of three against the Hartford Yard Goats on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. RHP Mike Connolly (3-4, 5.11) is scheduled to make the start in the middle game against Harford’s LHP Sean Nolin (2-2, 4.75). Saturday in Funnville also features a tribute to Bruce Springsteen In-your-Face Fireworks show. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN
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