Squirrels drop close season opener at Somerset
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Vaun Brown belted a three-run homer for an early lead, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels dropped their season opener on the road to the Somerset Patriots, 5-4, on Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark.
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Vaun Brown belted a three-run homer for an early lead, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels dropped their season opener on the road to the Somerset Patriots, 5-4, on Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark.
The Flying Squirrels (0-1) rallied from an early deficit to take the lead with four runs in the fourth inning, but the Patriots (1-0) answered with single runs in the fourth in sixth and held off a late Richmond rally.
BROWN BOMB! 💣
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 5, 2024
Vaun's first homer of the season puts us in front in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/FMRtgplOpG
Trailing, 3-0, entering the fourth, Will Wilson brought in a run with a ground out to close the deficit to two. Two batters later, Brown launched a three-run homer to right-center to give the Flying Squirrels a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Grant Richardson scored on a throwing error to tie the game, 4-4. Max Burt drove an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to move the Patriots ahead, 5-4, against reliever Wil Jensen (Loss, 0-1).
Somerset reliever Luis Velasquez (Win, 1-0) held Richmond scoreless over two innings of work, striking out three.
In the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Andy Thomas worked a two-out walk against reliever Jack Neely (Save, 1), but Luis Toribio followed with a groundout to end the game.
The Patriots struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ben Rice and Agustin Ramirez hit back-to-back solo homers to lead off the inning and Richardson followed with an RBI single to give Somerset a 3-0 lead.
Richmond starter John Michael Bertrand settled in to put up a pair of scoreless innings before surrendering a run following an error in the fourth. He worked five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) with a pair of strikeouts.
What a turn! 🤯
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 6, 2024
Christian Koss and Jimmy Glowenke combine for a run-saving double play as we head to the ninth chasing one. pic.twitter.com/4aIEGOKWNC
In the bottom of the eighth, Richmond reliever Evan Gates issued three consecutive walks to load the bases with no outs, but he struck out Rice and Ruiz bounced into a double play, ending the threat without surrendering a run.
The series continues on Saturday night at TD Bank Ballpark. Right-hander Carson Ragsdale will start for Richmond in his Double-A debut opposed by Somerset right-hander Bailey Dees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
The Flying Squirrels host their sold-out home opener on Tuesday night against the Akron RubberDucks, Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Tickets are on sale for the rest of the season-opening homestand at The Diamond from Wednesday through Sunday online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 (FUNN) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office. Information on the homestand’s promotions, including VCU Night, Nutasha’s Birthday Bash and fireworks on Thursday and Saturday nights can be found here.