AKRON, Ohio – The Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Akron RubberDucks, 14-6, on Sunday night at 7 17 Credit Union Park in their final regular-season road game of the year.
The Flying Squirrels (73-57, 30-32 second half) lost their fifth straight game against the RubberDucks (66-63, 31-30), a new season high.
Akron took a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Richmond starter Greg Farone (Loss, 5-11) walked the first two batters of the game before an infield hit loaded the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Aaron Walton worked a bases-loaded walk and a second run scored after a fielding error. Luke Hill capped the four-run from with a two-run single.
In the second, Farone issued back-to-back walks to open the inning before being replaced by Dale Stanavich. Two batters later, Nolan Schubart hit a three-run homer to open a 7-0 Akron lead.
Maui Ahuna hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the third to close the score to 7-2.
Aaron Walton hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Maick Collado plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to extend the Akron lead to 10-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Schubart hit an RBI single and Bennett Thompson singled in two runs for a 13-2 RubberDucks lead.
An Akron error scored a Richmond run in the seventh to close the score to 13-3.
In the top of the eighth, Jancel Villarroel hit a two-out, RBI double and scored on a single by Zander Darby to pull Richmond within eight runs.
Thompson added an RBI single against a position player in the bottom of the eighth to push Akron’s lead to 14-5.
Dakota Jordan hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth for Richmond’s sixth run.
Marty Gair, making his second Double-A appearance, entered in the seventh and threw a 1-2-3 innings with a strikeout against the top of the order.
The Flying Squirrels open their final home series of the regular season against the Chesapeake Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, on Tuesday night. Right-hander Miguel Mendez (0-0, 4.00) is set to start for Richmond. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at CarMax Park.
Cats are invited to come to the ballpark for Toe Bean Tuesday presented by Richmond International Airport. Pre-registration is required. 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.