Squirrels rally for five in ninth, defeat RubberDucks, 8-4

A five-run ninth inning and a strong pitching performance guided the Richmond Flying Squirrels to an 8-4 win over the Akron RubberDucks Saturday night at Canal Park.

Akron (68-51, 28-22) threatened with three runs in the ninth inning but Richmond (57-61, 17-32) held on and snapped its three-game losing streak.

The Flying Squirrels captured a 1-0 lead in the first inning off a sacrifice fly from Tyler Fitzgerald.

Akron tied the game at 1-1 in the third when Jose Tena hit an RBI single up the middle. It was the only run Richmond starter Landen Roupp (Win, 1-1) allowed over six innings. Roupp finished the night with seven strikeouts and held the RubberDucks to three hits.

Fitzgerald sent the Flying Squirrels in front by a run with an RBI double against Eli Lingos (Loss, 1-2) in the sixth inning. Sean Roby brought Fitzgerald home with a single to give Richmond a 3-1 advantage.

After three consecutive walks to start the ninth inning, Shane Matheny rocketed a two-run double to center field. Later in the frame, Brett Auerbach blasted a three-run homer to left field and gave Richmond an 8-1 lead. It was Auerbach’s 15th home run of the season.

Akron cut the deficit to 8-4 in the bottom of the ninth off a Richmond throwing error, passed ball and an RBI groundout. Melvin Adon faced seven batters and closed out the victory with a looking strikeout.

Ryan Walker struck out two batters in a scoreless seventh inning and Nick Avila set down the RubberDucks in order in the eighth.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Kyle Harrison (4-2, 2.91) will start for Richmond opposed by Akron right-hander Thomas Ponticelli (2-3, 3.72). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron.

After this week’s road series, the Flying Squirrels return to The Diamond for a six-game series against the Harrisburg Senators, Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, from August 30-September 4. Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.

The Flying Squirrels will host their first playoff game since 2014 on Thursday, September 22 at The Diamond. Tickets for all potential playoff games in Richmond are on sale now at SquirrelsBaseball.com.