Squirrels shut out in road-trip finale

ERIE, Pa. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels were held to five hits and lost to the Erie SeaWolves, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at UPMC Park.

The Flying Squirrels (41-64-1, 20-18 second half) won four-of-six in the series against the SeaWolves (63-44, 18-20) and remain 1.5 games behind first-place Altoona heading into a series against the Curve in Richmond this week.

The SeaWolves opened a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Nick Zwack (Loss, 0-1). Max Clark led off with an infield single and later scored on a triple by Kevin McGonigle, who crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Justice Bigbie.

After the two first-inning runs, Zwack held the SeaWolves scoreless the rest of his five-inning outing with five strikeouts. In four starts since returning to Richmond, Zwack has posted a 1.86 ERA.

Erie starter Kenny Serwa (Win, 5-4) made his second scoreless start of the series, throwing five innings on Sunday with five strikeouts.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bel Malgeri hit a two-out, two-run homer against Manuel Mercedes to extend the lead to 4-0.

Jack Choate entered with two on and no outs in the seventh but escaped the inning with a strikeout and double-play groundout.

The Flying Squirrels return home to start a series against the Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, beginning Tuesday night. Right-hander Trystan Vrieling (1-2, 4.21) will start for Richmond opposed by Altoona right-hander Antwone Kelly (2-2, 2.29). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Tuesday is Salute to the Peanut Night featuring a “You Can’t Have FUNN Without Going Nuts” T-shirt giveaway for the first 1,000 fans ages 15 and older presented by the Virginia Peanut Growers Association. Fans are encouraged to bring a jar of peanut butter for a peanut butter drive benefiting Feed More. Tickets are on sale online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.