Double-A Richmond blanks Akron in Game 3
Lefty Blach combines with relievers Quirarte and Okert on three-hit shutout
Left-hander Ty Blach combined with relievers Edwin Quirarte and Steven Okert for a three-hit shutout on Friday as Double-A Richmond defeated Akron, 1-0, in Game 3 of their Eastern League semifinal series. The Flying Squirrels lead the best-of-five series 2-1.
Blach, the Giants' No. 6 prospect, threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Quirarte followed with 2 1/3 innings of relief before Okert retired the final batter to complete the shutout.
Shortstop Kelby Tomlinson drove in the lone run of the game with an RBI single in the third inning off right-hander Cody Anderson, the Indians' No. 11 prospect. Tomlinson finished the game 3-for-4 with a triple.
Blach struck out five batters, walked two and held Akron to two hits. He has now thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings, a streak that dates back to Aug. 26.
Quirarte allowed one hit, one walk and struck out two. Okert earned the save, his first of the playoffs after saving 24 games in the regular season between Class A Advanced San Jose and Richmond.
Blach went 8-8 with a 3.13 ERA in 25 starts for Richmond this season. He struck out 91 batters and walked 39 in 141 innings. He ranked fifth in the Eastern League in ERA.
The Flying Squirrels will have a chance to advance to the finals on Saturday when their series against the RubberDucks continues with Game 4. Right-hander Chris Stratton, the Giants' No. 8 prospect, is slated to start when the game begins at 6:05 p.m. ET. If necessary, Game 5 will be played Sunday at 1:35 p.m.