RICHMOND, Va. – A three-run ninth inning launched the Richmond Flying Squirrels to a 9-7 comeback win against the Harrisburg Senators Friday night at FNB Field.
The victory marked the 33rd comeback win this season and the eighth time the Flying Squirrels (66-45, 23-20) have won trailing after the eighth inning.
Trailing 7-6 in the top of the ninth inning with a runner on first, Trevor Cohen hammered an RBI triple to right-center, scoring Jean Carlos Sió from first base and evened the score, 7-7.
Dayson Croes plated Cohen with a sacrifice fly to give the Flying Squirrels a one-run lead. Gavin Kilen reached on a two-out walk against Harrisburg reliever Robert Cranz (Loss, 3-1) and later scored on a fielding error to give Richmond a 9-7 advantage.
Marques Johnson (Win, 2-1) tossed a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to seal the comeback win.
The Senators (56-56, 22-21) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Richmond starter Charlie McDaniel.
Jancel Villarroel drove in the first Richmond run on an RBI double in the fifth inning. Sió lifted a game-tying sacrifice fly and Jose Astudillo scored on a Harrisburg interference error.
The Senators tied the score, 3-3, in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Cortland Lawson.
With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, Villarroel plated two runs with a base hit and Sió followed in the next at-bat with an RBI single to move the Flying Squirrels in front, 6-3. Villarroel finished the game 2-for-3 with a season-high three RBIs.
The Senators grabbed a run back in the bottom of the sixth and cut the deficit to 6-5 in the seventh on a solo home run by Branden Boissiere.
After a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth, Devin Fitz-Gerald bashed a two-run homer to right field, moving the Senators to a 7-6 lead.
The series continues on Saturday night. Left-hander Tyler Switalski (1-3, 8.31) gets the start for Richmond countered by Harrisburg right-hander Jack Cebert (2-3, 4.61). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at FNB Field in Harrisburg.
Following the road trip, the Flying Squirrels return to Richmond for a six-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs from August 25-30. Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the CarMax Park ticket office. Tickets for the Flying Squirrels’ home playoff games at CarMax Park on sale now at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Playoffs.