Late rally comes up short as Thunder split with Squirrels

TRENTON » The Thunder got their hottest hitter to the plate in the ninth inning with the tying run standing on second base.

Only this time Devyn Bolasky, who already had three hits in the game, couldn’t get another one and grounded out to first and Richmond held on for a 4-3 victory at Arm & Hammer Park on Sunday as the teams split a four-game series.

“We didn’t put ourselves in many situations to score runs and then it was a little too few too late in the ninth,” manager Jay Bell said. “We let one go today.”

One of the few chances the Thunder (51-41) generated was in the third inning after the Flying Squirrels (45-46) took the lead in the top half of the frame, but Bolasky was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a double by Bruce Caldwell.

“The way we were swinging the bats, it didn’t feel like we were going to get the big hit,” Bell said. “In that situation, I figured we’d take a shot and sometimes it pays of and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m on the side of being a little more aggressive.”

The game stayed 1-0 until Richmond got three in the ninth off Brady Lail, a rally that began with backto-back walks to start the inning.

Jonah Arenado had an RBI single, Matt Lipka followed with a sacrifice fly and former Thunder Ali Castillo put the cherry on top with a triple that Bolasky misplayed in left.

The Thunder rallied for three runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Mandy Alvarez and a two-run double from Wendell Rijo that struck the bottom of the wall.

Bolasky fell behind 0-2 and then fouled off two pitches before rolling over a grounder to first.

Bolasky finished 3-for-5 and is batting .407 in 29 games.

Trevor Stephan worked allowed one run on six hits over 5.1 innings, but dropped to 2-6 overall.

“I like what we’ve got, but when you look at a small sample size like today’s game it’s disappointing because I felt like we were in a position to win three out of four,” Bell said. “We just have to get back after it tomorrow.”

“I think it’s going to be a short-term thing,” Bell said. “We’ll get somebody to come up and make a spot start. He’ll probably be more like (July) 22nd or 23rd. That’s what I’m assuming, but we’ll get somebody to take care this section of games where we’ve got the doubleheader.”

The right-hander is 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 15 starts. He’s already compiled 88 2/3 innings, which is just shy of his career high of 88 1/3 set last season.

Tate, 24, was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Texas Rangers and acquired by the Yankees along with Erik Swanson in Nick Green in the August 2016 deal that sent Carlos Beltran the other way. New Hampshire (Jays) Trenton (Yankees) Hartford (Rockies) Binghamton (Mets) Reading (Phillies) Portland (Red Sox)

Western

Akron (Indians) 55 Altoona (Pirates) 48 Harrisburg (Nationals) 48 Richmond (Giants) 45 Erie (Tigers) 43 Bowie (Orioles) 41

Sunday’s games

New Hampshire 3, Portland 1 Richmond 4, Trenton 3 Hartford 3, Harrisburg 2 Erie 7, Altoona 1

Akron 9, Binghamton 5 Bowie 7, Reading 1

Monday’s games

51 51 45 43 43 36

W

40 41 46 48 49 55

L

38 41 45 46 49 51 .560 .554 .495 .473 .467 .396

Pct

.591 .539 .516 .495 .467 .446 — 5 7 9 11 1⁄2 13 1⁄2 Akron at Harrisburg, 6:30 p.m. Erie at Richmond, 6:35 p.m. Portland at Binghamton, 6:35 p.m. Bowie at Altoona, 7 p.m. Reading at Hartford, 7:05 p.m. Trenton at New Hampshire, 7:05 p.m. 1⁄2 6 8 8 1⁄2 15

GB