SLIPPERY ROCK — Richmond RiverRats manager Tyler Lairson has come to expect very methodical outings from pitcher Lance Sheets.

Count Tuesday’s effort against the Slippery Rock Sliders as just another one of those games.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound hurler fired a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts to key the RiverRats to a 7-0 victory in Prospect League action at Jack Critchfield Park, handing the Sliders their seventh consecutive defeat.

“The pitch count was great. He usually throws about 90 pitches when he comes out,” said Lairson. “He’s efficient, he competes, he throws pitches for strikes.”

“I thought some of our at-bats were a little rushed,” Sliders manager Shawn Pynn said. “We helped his pitch count. Our hitting was a little scattered.”

The RiverRats (9-10) also benefitted by a 15-hit outburst, as every hitter in the lineup registered at least one hit and the squad was not retired in order until the ninth inning.

“Our offense has a lot of confidence, but we couldn’t put back-to-back hits together,” Lairson said. “Our offense takes a great approach to hitting. We kept telling the guys we have to take advantage when we get the chance.”

The RiverRats had five hits through the first four innings but could not plate a run, but they finally broke through in the fifth inning.

Rey Delvalle opened with a single against Sliders starter Brent Roehrich, then stole second with one out. Justin Pearson followed with an RBI single.

After a walk to Nolan Earley, Cody Campbell delivered a run-scoring single as the runners moved into scoring position. Roehrich, however, struck out Jake Mahon and Derek Trovillion to end the threat.

The Sliders (5-13) had two chances to pull even in the fifth and sixth innings, but couldn’t push a run through.

With two outs in the fifth inning, Alex Lang walked and Justin Viele doubled, but Sheets fanned Abernathy to end the frame. In the sixth, Pat Gelwicks walked with one out and an error allowed Radley Haddad to reach safely and advance both runners into scoring position.

Mike Porcaro then lifted a fly ball to shallow right field, where RiverRats second baseman Jake Welch made a running catch, turned back to the infield and fired a perfect one-hop throw to home plate, which Gelwicks was tagged out by Garrett Ruckel to complete the double play.

“I sent (Gelwicks) from third hoping we score on a bad throw,” Pynn said. “When you haven’t scored, you want to get that run in. We had a good hitter on deck, but ... I’ll be thinking about that one tonight.”

In the seventh inning, Trovillion added an RBI double and another run came home on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. An RBI single by Mahon and two-run double by Mike Meredith in the eighth inning would close out the scoring.

For Pynn, he’s hopeful his team can shake off the losing skid and gear up for a run to stay in the first-half chase.

“When you start dwelling on the negative stuff, it will continue to happen,” Pynn said. “They had one ball down the line just fair and another that went past the third-base bag. The guys are still upbeat. They’re a great group.”

Notes: The Sliders had two runners picked off first base. ... Sheets walked five batters in the contest.

Richmond 000 020 230 — 7 15 1

Slippery Rock 000 000 000 — 0 3 0

W: Lance Sheets 9 IP (6K, 5BB). L: Brent Roehrich 5 IP (3K, 1BB).

Richmond (9-10): Jake Welch 1B; Justin Pearson 3-1B, RBI; Nolan Earley 2-1B, 2B; Cody Campbell 2-1B, RBI; Jake Mahon 1B, RBI; Derek Trovillion 2-2B, RBI; Garrett Ruckel 1B; Mike Meredith 2B, RBI; Rey Delvalle 1B

Slippery Rock (5-13): Ryan Abernathy 1B; Pat Guinane 1B; Justin Viele 2B

Today: Richmond at Slippery Rock, 7:05 p.m.