Richmond, VA - The Portland Sea Dogs (27-27)(61-60) cruised to an 11-2 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels (28-25)(71-50) on Thursday night, putting together a balanced attack with solid pitching throughout the night.
Ahbram Liendo was two-for-four with a home run and three total RBI. Justin Gonzales was one-for-three with a two-out two-RBI single and a pair of walks, including one that walked in a run. Brooks Brannon also drove in a pair of runs, going two-for-four with a double. Henry Godbout hit his fourth home run as a Sea Dog, a two-run blast. RHP Joe Vogatsky was phenomenal, with 4.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen. Catcher Hudson White made his Double-A debut as a pitcher, recording a scoreless ninth inning.
Richmond scored quickly in the bottom of the first inning. Dayson Croes singled, stole second, and scored on a Lisbel Diaz RBI single.
In the top of the second, the Sea Dogs responded. Henry Godbout was hit by a pitch, reaching base as the lead off batter. Nelly Taylor hit a bunt single and Liendo walked, loading the bases. With two outs, Gonzales came through with his two-RBI single, propelling the Sea Dogs into a 2-1 lead.
Richmond loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, and a wild pitch allowed Jean Carlos Sio to score, tying the game 2-2.
The Sea Dogs put up a big fifth inning, powered by a Brooks Brannon double. A Richmond error allowed two runs to score on the play, Gonzales and Max Ferguson. Godbout reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second base. Taylor walked, and Godbout stole third base, scoring on a wild pitch moments later. Finally, Liendo blasted his home run to left-center field driving in two more runs, and the Sea Dogs led 7-2.
Portland added to their lead in the seventh inning. Johanfran Garcia was hit by a pitch, before Richmond collected two quick outs and made a pitching change. Now facing RHP Ben Peterson, Liendo singled on the first pitch of his at bat to drive in another run. Two more walks loaded the bases, before Gonzales walked, driving in Liendo.
The Flying Squirrels sent in Dayson Croes, a position player, to pitch the final out of the seventh and the entire eighth inning. In the eighth, Brannon walked and Godbout homered, extending the Sea Dogs’ lead to 11-2.
RHP Caleb Bolden (4-5, 5.76 ERA) earned the win, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout in 2.0 innings pitched. LHP Dan Stanavich (3-3, 5.40 ERA) was handed the loss, allowing one run on one hit and one walk with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched.
Tomorrow night, LHP Devin Futrell (1-0, 4.50 ERA) is set to face LHP Charlie McDaniel (3-3, 5.27 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm at CarMax Park.