RICHMOND, Virginia — The Richmond Flying Squirrels scored all of their runs in innings 3 and 4, defeating the Portland Sea Dogs (23-35) 4-3 on Tuesday night in their Easter League series opener at the Diamond.
Portland (23-35) has lost five in a row for the first time since an 8-game losing streak in 2013. The two teams have played a 4-3 contest in all four games this season, but Richmond (29-26) has won three of them.
San Francisco Giants righty Matt Cain made a Major League Rehab Assignment for Richmond, giving up three hits on two runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Cain threw 56 pitches in just the second MLB Rehab Assignment in Richmond history.
The Sea Dogs snapped a 28-inning scoreless streak, tallying two runs off Cain in third inning. With two outs, Marco Hernandez singled on a 2-0 count and scored on a double by Carlos Asuaje. Jantzen Witte followed with a run-scoring single to center.
Richmond responded with a three-run third off Justin Haley. Ricky Oropesa tied the game with a two-run single and Mitch Delfino provided a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
The Flying Squirrels extended their lead to 4-2 in the fourth when former Red Sox farmhand Engel Beltre produced an RBI single.
Haley (1-8) suffered his second straight loss to Richmond, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits over 4 innings.
Portland posted its third 2-out RBI in the eighth inning, courtesy of Witte, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Hernandez began the rally with a one-out single and scored on Witte’s line drive to left field.
Kelvin Marte (5-0) would allow just that run over 4-plus innings for Richmond. Josh Osich worked a perfect ninth to convert his 15th save in 16 opportunities.
The Sea Dogs received four scoreless innings from their bullpen. Kyle Kraus worked three innings (one hit, two strikeouts) and Jorge Marban pitched a perfect eighth.