Wade Meckler delivered a go-ahead single in part of a two-run seventh inning to give the Richmond Flying Squirrels a 6-4 comeback win over the Akron RubberDucks Saturday night at The Diamond.
The Flying Squirrels (19-18), the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, welcomed their 5 millionth fan in franchise history and continue to lead Double-A in overall and average attendance.
Tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Hayden Cantrelle drew a walk then stole second and third. Simon Whiteman walked and Meckler bashed an RBI single to right field, sending the Flying Squirrels to a one-run lead.
Later in the inning, Marco Luciano walked with the bases loaded to pad the Richmond advantage to 6-4.
Blake Rivera (Win, 1-1) worked two scoreless innings over the seventh and eighth. Evan Gates (Save, 4) stranded a pair of runners in the top of the ninth with a flyout, groundout and a strikeout.
The RubberDucks pulled ahead, 1-0, in the first inning off an RBI double from Bryan Lavastida.
Jose Tena padded the Akron lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning.
Cantrelle drew a one-out walk and Meckler batted a single to put runners at first and second. Vaun Brown crushed a three-run homer to center field and gave the Flying Squirrels a 3-2 lead. It was Brown’s first Double-A homer.
The RubberDucks fought back with two solo home runs from Jonathan Rodriguez and Gabriel Rodriguez in the top of the fourth to capture a 4-3 lead.
With a runner at third and one out in the fourth inning, Riley Mahan evened the score, 4-4, with a sacrifice fly to plate Carter Aldrete.
The homestand concludes Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. at The Diamond. Sunday is Disability Inclusion Day where the Flying Squirrels team up with Friendship Circle of Virginia to celebrate inclusion for fans of all abilities. Pre-Game Catch on the Field presented by Nesquik will take place from 12:45 to 1:05 and all kids ages 14 and under are invited to run the bases following the game with Post-Game Kids Run the Bases presented by Richmond Family Magazine.
Right-hander Mason Black (0-3, 4.62) will start for Richmond opposed by Akron right-hander Tanner Burns (2-1, 2.93).
Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.
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Chris Graham
