The Harrisburg Senators rallied to beat the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-7 Friday night at the Diamond. Daniel Murphy hit the go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning as the Senators erased an early five-run deficit to take the series opener.
The Harrisburg Senators rallied to beat the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-7 Friday night at the Diamond. Daniel Murphy hit the go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning as the Senators erased an early five-run deficit to take the series opener.
Ryan Howard doubled in the first run of the game in the opening frame to put Richmond on top 1-0.
The Senators responded by taking a brief lead in the top of the second on a two-run double by Austin Davidson.
Richmond plated five runs in the bottom of the frame. 11 batters came to the plate in the inning, with hits by the first six batters including four doubles as Richmond took a 7-1 lead.
The Senators sprung back into the game with four runs the next inning. After the team loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, Drew Ward singled in a run and Hunter Jones hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice to put a pair of runs on the board. The next batter, Davidson, cut the deficit to one with a two-RBI double to make it 7-6 Richmond.
The Senators completed the five-run comeback in the fourth. Following a walk and double by Kelvin Gutierrez and Daniel Murphy respectively, Taylor Gushue reached on an infield single which allowed the tying run to score.
Neither starter factored in the decision. Senators starter Logan Darnell surrendered seven runs on 10 hits across one and two-thirds innings. Richmond starter Mike Connolly allowed six runs on six hits in two and two-thirds frames.
The game remained tied at 7-7 until the eighth. Daniel Murphy launched a solo home run over the right-field fence, his second on his rehab assignment, to put the Senators ahead 8-7.
Jeff Ames (2-0) picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief. Dan Slania (0-1) took the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in a pair of innings. Senators reliever Austen Williams also tossed four and a third shutout innings, limiting the Squirrels to two hits while striking out five. Bryan Harper pitched a perfect ninth to notch his third save.
Austin Davidson finished 3-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBI to lead the Senators offense. Daniel Murphy went 2-3 with a home run and two runs scored in his ninth rehab game with the Senators.
The five-run deficit overcome by the Senators was the largest deficit they've come back from and won this season.
The Senators and Flying Squirrels continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday evening. Jefry Rodriguez and Jaron Long starts in games one and two respectively, while Richmond sends starter Shaun Anderson to the mound in game one and they have not announced who will start game two. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The game can be heard on CBS Sports Harrisburg 96.5 & 95.3 FM and 1400 AM or at www.cbssportsharrisburg.com beginning at 4:50 p.m.
