Flying Squirrels fall short in fifth straight defeat

The Flying Squirrels (41-43) dropped their fifth consecutive contest on Thursday night, falling 5-4 to the Akron RubberDucks (50-36) at The Diamond.

Richmond’s Caleb Gindl gathered three of the team’s eight hits, including a key two-run double to pull the Squirrels within a run in the sixth inning. Richmond-native Connor Overton was used in a spot start and suffered the loss. Overton tossed four innings and struck out six in the effort. Richmond continues the five-game homestand on Friday with a Free Shirt Friday & RVA’s Best Happy Hour. The first 1,500 fans (21+) will receive a free Patriotic Tank Top Giveaway, presented by Bud Light.

Gindl (3-4, 2RBI) was the only Squirrels player with multiple-hits in the contest. The Richmond bullpen quartet of Ryan Halstead (2.0IP, 2H,R), Dan Slania (0.2IP, 0H, 2BB), Dillon McNamara (1.1IP, 3K) and Sam Wolff (IP, 2H, 3K) backed Overton’s start and kept the game within striking distance. 

The RubberDucks once again pushed across the game’s first run in the first inning. Tyler Krieger lined a one-out double into the alley in left centerfield and advanced to third when Joe Sever blooped a ball over the mound for an infield single. Bobby Bradley then delivered the run on a deep sacrifice fly, placing Akron ahead 1-0. Richmond starter Connor Overton limited the inning to just one run by grounding out Connor Marabell.

Richmond threatened snap their scoreless skid. Ryan Howard roped a two-out triple in the first inning and Dylan Davis worked a walk, placing runners on the corners. Unfortunately, Aramis Garcia could not capitalize on the runners as he flew out into a stern wind in right to end the inning. The Squirrels placed another pair of runners on in the second, using single from Caleb Gindl and Jonah Arenado. Akron’s Dominic Demasi worked out of the jam, striking out Matt Lipka and Luigi Rodriguez to end the inning.

Akron created some separation with three more runs in the top of the third inning. The “Ducks loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a double. Overton battled and was almost out of the bind when a fly ball sailed over the head of centerfielder Matt Lipka, emptying the bases for a 4-0 Akron lead. Overton finished the inning with a pitch count of 62. 

Overton (0-2) suffered the loss is his second spot start of the year. The Richmond native tossed 80 pitches over four innings. He allowed four runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three.

Jonah Arenado snapped the Squirrels scoreless stretch at 15 innings with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Jerry Sands opened the inning with his league-lead tying 22^nd double. Sands roped a fastball up the left field line and advanced to third on a groundout to set up Arenado. Arenado lofted a flyball into centerfield for a 4-1 score.

Richmond rallied for three more runs in the sixth, forcing DeMasi out of the contest.  Dylan Davis ignited the attacked with a double into the gap in left centerfield. A dropped fly ball and walk loaded the bases for Richmond’s Caleb Gindl. DeMasi was pulled in favor of the lefty David Speer and Gindl drilled a two-run double over the right fielder Marabell. Arenado added an RBI ground out – his second RBI of the night – to pull Richmond to within a run, 5-4.

DeMasi finished with five (+) innings to earn the win. He allowed four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three. Speer finished the sixth while right-hander Jordan Milbrath tossed a pair of scoreless innings. Argenis Angulo shut the door in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the year.

The Flying Squirrels continue their five -game Independence Day Weekend homestand on Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Taylor Hill (0-2, 3.88) will make the start for Richmond against Akron RHP Jake Paulson (4-3, 2.91.). Friday in Funnville is a Free Shirt Friday & RVA’s Best Happy Hour. The first 1,500 fans (21+) will receive a free Patriotic Tank Top Giveaway presented by Bud Light. Tickets can be purchased online over the phone by calling 804-359-3866 (FUNN).

The Flying Squirrels (41-43) dropped their fifth consecutive contest on Thursday night, falling 5-4 to the Akron RubberDucks (50-36) at The Diamond. Richmond’s Caleb Gindl gathered three of the team’s eight hits, including a key two-run double to pull the Squirrels within a run in the sixth inning. Richmond-native Connor Overton was used in a spot start and suffered the loss. Overton tossed four innings and struck out six in the effort. Richmond continues the five-game homestand on Friday with a Free Shirt Friday & RVA’s Best Happy Hour. The first 1,500 fans (21+) will receive a free Patriotic Tank Top Giveaway, presented by Bud Light.

Gindl (3-4, 2RBI) was the only Squirrels player with multiple-hits in the contest. The Richmond bullpen quartet of Ryan Halstead (2.0IP, 2H,R), Dan Slania (0.2IP, 0H, 2BB), Dillon McNamara (1.1IP, 3K) and Sam Wolff (IP, 2H, 3K) backed Overton’s start and kept the game within striking distance.

The RubberDucks once again pushed across the game’s first run in the first inning. Tyler Krieger lined a one-out double into the alley in left centerfield and advanced to third when Joe Sever blooped a ball over the mound for an infield single. Bobby Bradley then delivered the run on a deep sacrifice fly, placing Akron ahead 1-0. Richmond starter Connor Overton limited the inning to just one run by grounding out Connor Marabell.

Richmond threatened snap their scoreless skid. Ryan Howard roped a two-out triple in the first inning and Dylan Davis worked a walk, placing runners on the corners. Unfortunately, Aramis Garcia could not capitalize on the runners as he flew out into a stern wind in right to end the inning. The Squirrels placed another pair of runners on in the second, using single from Caleb Gindl and Jonah Arenado. Akron’s Dominic Demasi worked out of the jam, striking out Matt Lipka and Luigi Rodriguez to end the inning.

Akron created some separation with three more runs in the top of the third inning. The “Ducks loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a double. Overton battled and was almost out of the bind when a fly ball sailed over the head of centerfielder Matt Lipka, emptying the bases for a 4-0 Akron lead. Overton finished the inning with a pitch count of 62.

Overton (0-2) suffered the loss is his second spot start of the year. The Richmond native tossed 80 pitches over four innings. He allowed four runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three.

Jonah Arenado snapped the Squirrels scoreless stretch at 15 innings with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Jerry Sands opened the inning with his league-lead tying 22nd double. Sands roped a fastball up the left field line and advanced to third on a groundout to set up Arenado. Arenado lofted a flyball into centerfield for a 4-1 score.

Richmond rallied for three more runs in the sixth, forcing DeMasi out of the contest. Dylan Davis ignited the attacked with a double into the gap in left centerfield. A dropped fly ball and walk loaded the bases for Richmond’s Caleb Gindl. DeMasi was pulled in favor of the lefty David Speer and Gindl drilled a two-run double over the right fielder Marabell. Arenado added an RBI ground out – his second RBI of the night – to pull Richmond to within a run, 5-4.

DeMasi finished with five (+) innings to earn the win. He allowed four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three. Speer finished the sixth while right-hander Jordan Milbrath tossed a pair of scoreless innings. Argenis Angulo shut the door in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the year.

The Flying Squirrels continue their five -game Independence Day Weekend homestand on Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Taylor Hill (0-2, 3.88) will make the start for Richmond against Akron RHP Jake Paulson (4-3, 2.91.). Friday in Funnville is a Free Shirt Friday & RVA’s Best Happy Hour. The first 1,500 fans (21+) will receive a free Patriotic Tank Top Giveaway presented by Bud Light. Tickets can be purchased online over the phone by calling 804-359-3866 (FUNN).