Hot Squirrels make last trip to New Britain

August 17, 2010; 9:00 AM • by John Murden

The Squirrels (59-60) took 2 of 3 from the Portland Sea Dogs (58-62) in their only series in Richmond this year. The only loss in the series was a 10-inning back&forth battle that could’ve broken either way. The season finale saw the home club perform the near miraculous and win 5-4 on 5 runs in the 9th inning:

The Sea Dogs held onto that 4-0 lead until the ninth inning, when the Flying Squirrels staged their comeback. Thomas Neal walked to start the rally, before Brandon Belt was hit by a pitch. After a fielder’s choice, Sharlon Schoop drove in the first run, singling to right field. Tyler LaTorre followed with an RBI single to left, putting the tying run on base. Clay Timpner then hit a ball up the middle that deflected off of Ray Chang, scoring Schoop, and knocking Bryce Cox out of the ball game. Ryne Reynoso was greeted with an RBI single by Brad Boyer, before Darren Ford’s RBI gave Richmond a 5-4 walkoff victory.

The Flying Squirrels take their fight to break even for season to the hapless New Britain Rock Cats (34-87). New Britain remains the only team already mathmatically eliminated from play off contention and still on track to lose 100 games this season. This week should see Richmond up over .500 for the first time since they were 30-30 on June 10. The Squirrels bottomed out at 8 games under .500 at 42-50 on July 16 and have climbed back up to within 1 game of breaking even with 22 games left in the season. The momentum of a 17-11 record (.607) record over the past month, the Squirrels have good chance to end up a good few games in the black on September 7th.

EASTERN LEAGUE UPDATE: Looking up the Western Division standings, the Akron Aeros have snuck up on the Bowie Baysox and the Harrisburg Senators to make it a 3-way race for the playoffs. All 3 clubs are separated by only 1 1/2 games and scrapping for 2nd place behind Altoona. While the Squirrels aren’t quite in it, the hometeam could have something to say about who gets the longer season: Richmond has 7 games left with Bowie, none with Akron or Harrisburg.

August 17 7:05PM (AWAY)
Richmond Flying Squirrels @ New Britain Rock Cats
Maday (9-6, 2.83) vs. Robertson (2-11, 5.17)

August 18 7:05PM (AWAY)
Richmond Flying Squirrels @ New Britain Rock Cats
MacDonald (4-7, 4.14) vs. Province (5-5, 5.22)

August 19 7:05PM (AWAY)
Richmond Flying Squirrels @ New Britain Rock Cats
Tanner (8-8, 3.25) vs. Guerra (2-9, 5.99)

EAS Eastern
Club	W	L	PCT	GB	ELIM#	Home	Away	L10	Streak
Trenton	72	49	.595	–	–	41-20	31-29	6-4	W1
New Hampshire	69	51	.575	2.5	–	31-26	38-25	4-6	W1
Binghamton	58	61	.487	13.0	13	31-29	27-32	4-6	W2
Portland	58	62	.483	13.5	11	26-30	32-32	5-5	L1
Reading	57	61	.483	13.5	12	31-28	26-33	3-7	L3
New Britain	34	87	.281	38.0	E	17-43	17-44	1-9	L6

EAS Western
Club	W	L	PCT	GB	ELIM#	Home	Away	L10	Streak
Altoona	69	51	.575	–	–	34-25	35-26	5-5	L1
Bowie	64	56	.533	5.0	–	35-26	29-30	4-6	L1
Harrisburg	63	57	.525	6.0	22	32-28	31-29	6-4	L1
Akron	62	57	.521	6.5	22	34-29	28-28	6-4	W4
Richmond	59	60	.496	9.5	19	33-30	26-30	6-4	W1
Erie	54	67	.446	15.5	12	28-32	26-35	9-1	W1