MANCHESTER, NH – On Thursday, the Richmond Flying Squirrels avoided a sweep at the hands of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Yup, they avoided it as much as one thing can theoretically avoid anything without bending the laws of science.
Richmond defeated New Hampshire, 20-8, the first time any New Hampshire pitching staff has allowed that many runs in the franchise’s 15-year history. The previous mark was 18 runs, given up in May of 2014 and before than in July of 2008.
Despite the 28 combined runs, neither team recorded a home run. Instead, it seems that Richmond took notes after New Hampshire’s 11-batter, five-run onslaught in the first and decided to mimic that approach. The Squirrels submitted multi-run innings in the second, fourth, fifth as well as an eight-run ninth to put the cherry on top after additional runs in the seventh and eighth as well.
All nine New Hampshire batters had at least one hit, with Harold Ramirez and the newly returned Gunnar Heidt contributing two and Max Pentecost going 3-for-5. Pentecost and Santiago Espinal also added two RBI apiece with Espinal’s hit coming off a triple in the first.
New Hampshire had five doubles as well, with only two of Richmond’s 18 hits coming in for extra bases. However, they obtained help from three Fisher Cat errors and a steady trickle of baserunners that turned into a deluge in the ninth.
There, Richmond’s first ten batters reached base safely off reliever Dusty Issacs. Fisher Cats manager John Schneider removed Issacs after allowing seven runs, almost doubling his yearly total, bringing in backup catcher Ryan Hissey to pitch the game’s final three outs.
Nine of Richmond’s 11 batters had at least one hit, with Ali Castillo, Aramis Garcia and Ryan Howard getting two each, while Jonah Arenado got three and Dylan Davis got four. CJ Hinojosa drove in four Richmond runners, with Garcia, Howard, Arenado, Castillo and Matt Lipka also notching multiple-RBI nights as well.
It was a difficult night for pitchers on both sides, but Conner Menez was the winner by default, allowing seven runs off ten hits and three walks in five innings of work.
Jordan Romano was the losing pitcher, giving up two earned runs off six hits during the first four innings, seeing five more unearned runs cross the plate over that stretch as well.
Romano fell to 10-5 while Menez rose to 4-3.
The Fisher Cats now welcome the Erie Seawolves into town for a weekend series. On Friday, Erie will send Alex Faeda (1-2, 3.94 ERA) up against New Hampshire’s Josh DeGraaf (4-5, 4.74 ERA) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
