Flying Squirrels Bats Even Series at Two 

MANCHESTER, NH — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (28-33) lost to the Richmond Flying Squirrels (28-33) at Delta Dental Stadium Friday, 9-3. Richmond recorded 15 hits against five Fisher Cats pitchers.

Two Fisher Cats made their 2024 season debuts Friday. Right-handed pitcher Braydon Fisher, recently acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Dodgers, tossed 1 2/3 innings without an earned run and struck out two through the sixth and seventh. Designated hitter Kekai Rios, in his second season with New Hampshire, went 1-for-2 with a double and the RBI groundout.

Fisher Cats starter C.J. Van Eyk gave up two solo home runs over his first four innings and stranded four Richmond runners. The right-hander's night ended after a walk and a hit in the top of the fifth; the first batter to face Van Eyk’s replacement, reliever Hunter Gregory, hit a home run. Van Eyk finished the evening with four earned runs on seven hits and three strikeouts

Gregory wrapped up the top of the fifth and held the Richmond lead at 5-0.

New Hampshire’s offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth. Second baseman Miguel Hiraldo singled, then right fielder Garrett Spain doubled. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, Rios drove in Hiraldo with a ground ball to second. Center fielder Devonte Brown plated Spain with a chopper to shortstop. The bases cleared, and Richmond held a three-run lead.

Third baseman Ryan McCarty kept the rally alive with two outs, bashing a double off the right-center field wall. Shortstop Alex De Jesus did the same, and McCarty came around to score to cut the Flying Squirrels’ advantage to 5-3. De Jesus finished the night 2-for-4, and now has a hit in five straight games.

Richmond scored three unearned runs in the seventh, all with two outs, and one run in the eighth. New Hampshire right-hander Juan Nuñez tossed a scoreless ninth.

The series at Delta Dental Stadium continues Saturday night with a 6:35 PM EDT first pitch. New Hampshire southpaw Trenton Wallace (3-2, 2.94 ERA) to face Richmond LHP John Michael Bertrand (3-3, 3.14 ERA).

After six games against Richmond, the Fisher Cats welcome the Reading Fightin’ Phils to Manchester from Tuesday, June 18 through Sunday, June 23.

Fans can purchase multi-game memberships and single-game tickets at NHFishercats.com, via email at [email protected], by phone at (603) 641-2005, and in-person at the Fisher Cats box office on 1 Line Drive in Manchester.

About the New Hampshire Fisher Cats

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and play their games at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Over 155 former Fisher Cats have reached the Major League level. The Fisher Cats have raised millions of dollars for various charities through the Fisher Cats Foundation and continuously strive to improve the quality of life for Granite State residents. The organization has been recognized as New Hampshire Business Review’s “Best Sporting Event to Take Clients to”, Parenting New Hampshire Magazine’s “New Hampshire’s Favorite Sporting Event for Families”, and New Hampshire Magazine’s “Best New Hampshire Sports Team”. For more information on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, please visit NHFisherCats.com, call (603) 641-2005, or contact Chris Jared via email at [email protected].