RICHMOND - In front of sellout crowd of 9,845 fans, the Richmond Flying Squirrels shut out the Hartford Yard Goats, 1-0, behind a strong start from right-hander Logan Webb on Thursday night's season opener at The Diamond.

The 9,845 fans matched last year's home opener as the largest crowd in franchise history.u1:p

Webb (Win, 1-0) made his first career Opening Day start, working five scoreless innings with four strikeouts to begin his year. He walked five, but allowed just two hits and stranded six runners on base. Fernando Abad , Melvin Adon and Sam Wolff combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen to complete the shutout.u1:p

Richmond (1-0) broke through in the fifth against Hartford (0-1) left-hander Jack Wynkoop (Loss, 0-1). Dylan Davis , pinch-hitting for Webb to lead off the inning, smacked a double down the left-field line. Next, Johneshwy Fargas laid down a bunt on the third-base side, moving Davis to third and reaching first safely. Jalen Miller followed by grounding into a double play, but Davis scored as a result to give the Flying Squirrels a 1-0 lead.

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Abad tossed two scoreless innings in his Richmond debut, allowing one hit and striking out two batters. Adon followed with a scoreless inning of his own, working around a leadoff single with the help of Jonah Arenado at third base, who polished off the inning with a double play. u1:p

The Yard Goats brought the tying run to third base in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Willie Abreu led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and reached third on a wild pitch. But, Wolff struck out the next two batters he faced, fanning Manny Melendez to end the game. u1:p

The Flying Squirrels continue the season-opening homestand on Friday night against the Yard Goats. Left-hander Conner Menez will start for Richmond opposite right-hander Brandon Gold . First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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With the win, the Flying Squirrels improved to 8-2 all-time in home openers and have won the last five straight.

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Gates open at 6 p.m. for the first Copa de la Diversión game of the season, as Las Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond face Los Chivos de Hartford. La Parka, one of the most well-known lucha libre wrestlers, will make an appearance in Funnville. Fans can meet La Parka on the Funnville Fan Zone Main Stage from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Friday's game also includes the Friday Happy Hour, where fans can enjoy $2 12-oz. domestic beers at all concession stands, Beer Express Carts and The Thirsty Acorn, as well as $2 sodas at te Pepsi Fountain (located on the main concourse first base side.

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For tickets or more information, call 804-359-3866 (FUNN), visit SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets or stop by the Flying Squirrels box office.



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-SQUIRRELS-