The Richmond Flying Squirrels (43-45) emerged from the All-Star break on Thursday and suffered a ten-inning, 2-1 defeat against the Trenton Thunder (50-39) at Arm & Hammer Park. Trenton plated the extra inning gifted runner from second base in the bottom of the tenth following a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch to end the game. Richmond catcher Aramis Garcia forced the extra stanza with a solo home run in the top of the ninth. The four -game road trip for the Flying Squirrels continues on Friday night at 7 p.m., in Trenton, NJ. Richmond returns to Funnville on Monday for a three-game series against the Erie SeaWolves. Monday is a Bark in the Park night with a live appearance from the K9 Crew Trick Dog Show!
Trailing 1-0 and with two outs in the ninth inning, Garcia launched a game-tying home run over the left field wall to keep Richmond alive. Garcia’s ninth home run –his second in as many games – forced the seventh extra inning game of the year for Richmond. The Squirrels fell to 2-5 in extra innings this year with the loss.
The Thunder kept Richmond off the board in the top of the tenth, stranding the gifted runner (John Riley, pinch running) and Ali Castillo on base. Trenton started the bottom of the tenth with Devyn Bolasky at second and Kyle Holder managed to bunt him over the third base. After Trey Amburgey walked, Richmond hurler Ryan Halstead unleashed a wild pitch to end the contest. Halstead(2-3) was charged with the loss. The righty worked 1.1 innings and allowed just the one, unearned run in the defeat.
Lost in the finish was a superb start from Jake McCasland. McCasland worked around baserunners over the first four innings of his outing while he managed to strand Devyn Bolasky in the first (single, first), Gosuke Katoh in the second (double), Bolasky & Trey Amburgey in the third (singles) and Billy Flemming in the fifth (double). Despite the hits, McCasland was efficient with his pitcher, needing only 58 to maneuver through the first four frames.
Trenton finally broke through to snap the stalemate with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Catcher Jorge Saez opened the inning with a base hit into right field. McCasland then struck out Bolasky, but Saez was moving on the pitch and swiped second base. Kyle Holder then looped a base hit into center field and Trey Amburgey delivered a sacrifice lefty to left, scoring Saez for the game’s first run.
The Richmond offense scuffled to score against Trenton starting hurler Brian Keller. With one out in the sixth inning, Ryan Howard lashed a base hit into shallow right field. The single forced Brian Keller form the game. Keller lasted 5.1 innings and tossed 98 pitched in the no-decision. The righty allowed just three hits and struck out six and walking three.
The Squirrels McCasland lasted six solid innings in his fifth start of the year. McCasland allowed the one run on seven hits while also receive a no-decision He struck out four and did not walk a batter before turning the game over the to the Richmond bullpen. Patrick Ruotolo (IP, H, 0R, 0BB, K), Jose Flores (IP, 2H,0R,BB,K) and Halstead were used out of the ‘pen in relief.
The Flying Squirrels continue their four-game series in Trenton on Friday night at 7 p.m. Squirrels RHP Taylor Hill (0-3, 3.78) will make the start for Richmond against Trenton LHP Ryan Bollinger (4-3, 5.62). Richmond returns to Funnville on Monday for a three-game series against the Erie SeaWolves. Monday is a Bark in the Park night with a live appearance from the K-9 Crew Dog Show! Tickets and information can be found at www.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN (3884)
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