Home Late homer barrage pushes Richmond Flying Squirrels past RubberDucks, 5-3
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Late homer barrage pushes Richmond Flying Squirrels past RubberDucks, 5-3

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(© chones – stock.adobe.com)

The Richmond Flying Squirrels went deep three times in the bottom of the eighth, propelling them to a 5-3 series-finale win over the Akron RubberDucks on Sunday at The Diamond.

The Flying Squirrels (20-18), the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, moved back into first place in the Southwest Division, and split this week’s six-game series against the RubberDucks (19-19).

Marco Luciano, the #2 prospect in the Giants farm system, led off the frame with a solo homer, his fourth of the year., to tie the score, 3-3.

Two batters later, Carter Aldrete homered to center to give the Flying Squirrels a 4-3 lead against Akron reliever Zach Hart.

After a pitching change, Andy Thomas launched a solo homer to right-center, extending the lead to 5-3.

Richmond reliever Raymond Burgos stranded the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to end the game.

The RubberDucks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out, two-run homer by Johnathan Rodriguez against Richmond starter Mason Black.

Black, the #10 prospect in the Giants system, worked four innings and allowed two runs with five strikeouts on the day.

In the bottom of the first, Aldrete brought in a run with a groundout and Thomas followed with a two-out RBI single to tie the game, 2-2.

Juan Sanchez took over to start the fifth inning and threw 1.2 scoreless frames with three strikeouts.

The Flying Squirrels open a six-game series in Binghamton on Tuesday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. at Mirabito Stadium. Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (0-2, 2.93) will be on the mound for Richmond.

Following the road trip, the Flying Squirrels for 12 straight home games from May 30-June 11. Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].