The Richmond Flying Squirrels were held to three hits and dropped a 3-1 decision to the Somerset Patriots on Saturday night at TD Bank Ballpark.

The Flying Squirrels (37-61-1, 16-15 second half) remain 1½ games behind in the second-half Southwest Division standings after losing three of five games this week to Somerset (53-47, 19-13).

Somerset scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Richmond starter John Michael Bertrand (4-8) hit George Lombard with a pitch, then walked Jace Avina before Dylan Jasso’s RBI single made it 1-0. Bertrand retired the next three batters to end the inning.

Bertrand allowed one run on two hits over 4⅓ innings. He has a 2-1 record with a 0.82 ERA in four starts since July 1.

Tyler Vogel made his Double-A debut in the fifth inning, recording the final two outs and his first Double-A strikeout.

The Patriots extended their lead in the sixth inning. Brendan Jones singled and moved to third on a fielder’s choice and an error by Richmond’s Justin Wishkoski. Tomas Frick’s single scored Jones to make it 2-0. Max Burt added a run with a two-out single, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Vogel allowed two unearned runs over 1⅓ innings. Manuel Mercedes pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings in relief.

Richmond broke the shutout in the seventh. Scott Bandura led off with a single and scored on Carter Howell’s double.

Somerset starter Trent Sellers (2-4) threw five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven.

Former VCU pitcher Danny Watson pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Indigo Diaz earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth despite issuing a walk.

The series concludes Sunday with a 5:05 p.m. first pitch at TD Bank Ballpark. Left-hander Joe Whitman (3-7, 4.93) will start for Richmond.

The Flying Squirrels return home to The Diamond from Aug. 12-17 to face the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.