The Flying Squirrels are in the PLAYOFFS!

An AMAZING finale to the Squirrels season has made them bound for the playoffs. Although riding high at the moment, the Squirrels face a very challenging Harrisburg Senators starting tomorrow in Pennsylvania. How soon before we get to see our Squirrels in Richmond?

September 6, 2011; 11:21 AM • by Matt Sadler

It really didn’t look like it was going to happen for Richmond, but the stars aligned and the Flying Squirrels are in the playoffs. The Wild Card was Bowie’s to lose, and lost it they did, going 3-5 in the final week of the season. That slip up was enough allow Richmond to overtake them in the standings.

Then yesterday was just weird. I have never seen anything like it. If Richmond won the game, they were playing in the postseason. If they lost and Bowie won (which they did), the season was over. Richmond takes the lead in the Top of the 8th 2-1 on a Wes Hodges home run. Then the rains came BIG TIME. Normally, the game would be postponed or the score of the last completed inning would be submitted. Because this was the last game of the season, the rulebook allowed the game to go into the record books as a win for Richmond.

Last week

vs New Britain Rock Cats

In Game 1, Francisco Peguero and Charlie Culberson provided the necessary spark in the 10-5 win. Game 2, Lofgren was knocked out early as the Rock Cats returned the favor to Richmond by winning the game 12-3. Culberson made himself known in Game 3, as he knocked in 3 of the
8 runs in the Richmond romp. In the series finale, Rock Cat starter, Andrew Albers, took it to the Squirrels and defeated them 8-0.

@Altoona Curve

Game 1, Richmond saw the return of Daryl Maday and he was able to keep the Curve in check as Richmond prevailed 8-4. Game 2 was a long 14 inning marathon that Richmond was able to take 6-3. The victory was Coach Dave Machemer’s 1,500th of his managing career. Game 3 was long and rain-delayed, and it ended in the bottom of the 11th as Altoona was able to draw the game-winning run on a single up the middle. In the series finale, Wes Hodges was the definition of “clutch” and secured the win before the game was called.

This week

Richmond starts their 5-game series against the Harrisburg Senators beginning on Wednesday. The first 2 games will be played in Harrisburg. The series then heads to Richmond for a potential 2 games (Saturday will be played, if no team has by then won the series). The series will wrap-up in Harrisburg if the outcome has not been decided.

Since the only off-day is today, it is quite possible the the coaches will stick to their 5-man rotation. Harrisburg will likely start Shairon Martis, Erik Arnesen, Tanner B. Roark, Oliver Perez, and Daniel Rosenbaum. Richmond will likely counter with Justin Fitzgerald, Ryan Verdugo, Daryl Maday, Chuck Lofgren, and Jason Stevenson. Former Squirrels pitcher, Clayton Tanner, signed with the Reds organization after getting taken off the 40 man roster.

Harrisburg will still be without phenom Bryce Harper, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury in August. The Washington Nationals have said that he will not play until he is 100%. They still have plenty of firepower with the likes of Tyler Moore, Christopher Moore, and Derek Norris. The Squirrels will also be without All-Star Roger Kieschnick (injury) and Darren Ford (call up). They will be relying on the bats of Chris Dominguez, Francisco Peguero, Wes Hodges, and Charlie Culberson.

Playoff Tickets

Tickets are available for the both Saturday and Sunday. They can be purchased at the Diamond and the Flying Squirrels website. Both games, if played, will feature fireworks.

 

photo by Gamma Man

September 6, 2011 11:21 AM 0