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Harrison strikes out nine in debut but Squirrels lose late

Goats’ five-run seventh inning sinks Squirrels on Friday night
By Blaine McCormick
May 27, 2022

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels could not defend a strong Double-A debut by Kyle Harrison and fell to the Hartford Yard Goats, 7-2, on Friday night at The Diamond.

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels could not defend a strong Double-A debut by Kyle Harrison and fell to the Hartford Yard Goats, 7-2, on Friday night at The Diamond.

Harrison racked up nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings while allowing six hits, two runs and one walk. His nine strikeouts are tied for the second-most for a Flying Squirrels pitcher’s debut in franchise history.

Trailing by one run in the sixth inning, Frankie Tostado blasted a solo home run the opposite way to tie the game, 2-2. Tostado finished the night with a 3-for-3 performance and reached base in all four plate appearances.

The Yard Goats (27-16) exploded for five runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-2 advantage. After Taylor Rashi (Loss, 0-1) exited with the bases loaded, Michael Toglia gave the Goats a 3-2 lead with an RBI single. Brenton Doyle followed with an RBI single, Aaron Schunk had a two-RBI double and Willie MacIver capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to give Hartford a five-run lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Brett Auerbach cut the deficit to 7-3 with an RBI double. With the bases loaded, PJ Poulin (Save, 3) induced a game-ending double play to secure the Hartford win.

Diego Rincones gave Richmond (23-20) a 1-0 lead in the first inning off an RBI single that scored Armani Smith from second base.

Hartford evened the score, 1-1, in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly from Toglia.

Nick Bush (Win, 4-2) tied season highs with seven innings and seven strikeouts in his start for Hartford.

At 20 years, 288 days old, Harrison became the youngest pitcher in the Flying Squirrels' franchise history.

Memorial Day Weekend continues at The Diamond with In-Your-Face Fireworks presented by Breeze Airways on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. Right-hander Bryan Brickhouse (2-2, 5.70) will make the start for the Flying Squirrels opposed by right-hander Noah Davis (1-3, 7.18) for the Yard Goats.

Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.