Richmond 1-5-0Hartford 4-8-0WP: Peter Lambert (8-2)LP: Garrett Williams (2-7)S: Matt Pierpont (21)HR: Hilliard (6), Ramos (5)T- 2:23A- 6,219
Richmond 1-5-0
Hartford 4-8-0
WP: Peter Lambert (8-2)
LP: Garrett Williams (2-7)
S: Matt Pierpont (21)
HR: Hilliard (6), Ramos (5)
T- 2:23
A- 6,219
HARTFORD- Peter Lambert recorded his fifth consecutive victory, as Hartford, playing as the Whirly Birds on "What if night," downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 4-1 Thursday night, before 6,219 at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Lambert, who struck out a season-high nine batters, pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits and one walk. He became only the second Hartford pitcher to win five straight starts and register eight wins before the All-Star break. The 21-year-old right-hander improved to 8-2 and lowered his league leading ERA to 2.23.
Hartford (39-38) won for the ninth time in 12 games at home, before its eighth straight sellout crowd and 24th sellout of the season. In 13 home dates in the month of June, Hartford drew 82,526.
The Flying Squirrels jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI-single by Jonah Arenado. Lambert then retired the next 13 Richmond hitters, before surrendering an infield hit in the seventh. Logan Cozart pitched the eighth inning and Matt Pierpont a scoreless ninth for his league-leading 21st save.
The Whirly Birds came back to take the lead for good in the fourth inning, when Sam Hilliard slugged a two-run homer off of reliever and losing pitcher Garrett Williams. Roberto Ramos added to the lead, when he parked one off the LAZ Parking sign in the upper deck down the right field line. It was his fifth home run for the lefty hitting slugger, since joining the ball club seven days ago. Nelson Molina knocked in a run for a single, accounting for Hartford's other run.
Brian Mundell added three hits and a run scored in the Whirly Birds' eight-hit attack. Former UConn closer Patrick Ruotolo bounced back from a poor outing for Richmond (39-38), by striking out the side in the eighth inning.
Hartford heads to Reading to open a five-game series Friday night at 7:15. LHP Jack Wynkoop will pitch for Hartford against RHP Jacob Waguespack for the Fightin' Phils.
The game will be broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and streamed on newsradio1410.iheart.com and MiLB.com.
