AKRON, Ohio – The Richmond Flying Squirrels erased an eight-run deficit to beat the Akron RubberDucks, 13-12, on Tuesday night at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
The Flying Squirrels (73-52, 30-27 second half) posted the largest come-from-behind win in franchise history, overcoming a 9-1 deficit against the RubberDucks (61-63, 26-30).
Akron led, 12-6, through five innings. In the top of the sixth, Lisbel Diaz singled home a run and Jancel Villarroel worked a two-out, bases-loaded walk to pull Richmond within four.
In the top of the seventh, Maui Ahuna forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk and Diaz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to close the score to 12-10.
Dayson Croes reached on an error to lead off the top of the ninth and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Sabin Ceballos to pull the Flying Squirrels within a run.
Ahuna followed with an RBI single against Dylan DeLucia (Loss, 2-7) to tie the score.
With two outs in the ninth, Villarroel drove a single to center, scoring Ahuna from second to put the Flying Squirrels ahead, 13-12.
Ryan Vanderhei (Win, 3-0) worked a scoreless eighth before a 1-2-3 ninth to end the game.
The Flying Squirrels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Villarroel singled and later scored on a single by Trevor Cohen.
Akron scored nine runs in the second to take a 9-1 lead. The RubberDucks loaded the bases with no outs and Bennett Thompson hit a two-run single for a 2-1 lead. After a hit batter, Ryan Cesarini worked a bases-loaded walk to plate the third run of the inning.
Jaison Chourio followed with an RBI single and Jace LaViollette hit a grand slam. Later in the inning, Thompson hit another RBI single to open a 9-1 Akron lead.
In the top of the fourth, Cohen brought in a run with a groundout and Croes hit a two-out, RBI single to close the deficit to 9-3. Ahuna hit a two-run single and Diaz added an RBI single to pull the score to 9-6.
Aaron Walton hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Akron lead to 10-6. In the fifth, Cesarini brought in a run with a groundout and Dean Curley worked a bases-loaded walk to extend the RubberDucks’ lead to 12-6.
The Flying Squirrels picked up their 37th come-from-behind win of the season and their league-leading 31st win by one run, extending a franchise record. It was the 26th time this season the Flying Squirrels have scored the winning run in the eighth inning or later and the fifth win after trailing by five-or-more runs.
The eight-run deficit set a franchise record for the largest come-from-behind win in team history. Richmond had previously erased a six-run deficit in a win three times, including against Akron on May 8.
The game was played in exactly four hours, setting a Richmond franchise record for the longest nine-inning game in team history. It surpassed a three-hour, 55-minute game in a 20-9 win at Altoona on May 26, 2013.
Croes went 4-for-6 with a double and scored three runs. In his last 16 games since August 13, Croes is batting .386 (27-for-70). He has six multi-hit games in his last 10 games, including a trio of three-hit games.
Ahuna set a season high with four RBIs. He also picked up his 30th stolen base of the season, which is sixth-most in franchise history.
Mitch White took over in the fifth out of the Richmond bullpen and threw 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out two.
The loss eliminated Akron from postseason contention this season.
The series continues Wednesday night. Right-hander Miguel Mendez (0-0, 3.86) will start for Richmond opposed by Akron right-hander Braylon Doughty (1-2, 5.13). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron.
Following the road trip, the Flying Squirrels return home for their final series of the regular season against the Chesapeake Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, from Sept. 8-13. 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.