Squirrels Shutout in Season Finale

RICHMOND, Va. - Jesus Aguilar went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs and Brett Brach tossed six scoreless innings as the Akron Aeros (82-59) defeated the Flying Squirrels (70-71), 6-0, in the 2012 regular season finale at The Diamond Monday. With the win, Akron completed a sweep of the three-game series between the two Western Division rivals.

Akron seized control of the game from the outset. Jordan Henry double to start the game and Tyler Holt followed with a single. Then, Squirrels starter Chris Heston delivered a wild pitch with Chun Chen at the plate, which enabled Henry to score from third base. After Heston retired Chen, Aguilar hit an RBI single that scored Holt. Aguilar was forced out at second base on a ground ball off the bat of Adam Abraham, but Heston issued a walk to Matt Lawson and he gave up an RBI single to Ryan Rohlinger, which extended the Aeros' lead to 3-0. Rohlinger was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double.

After his rocky first inning, Heston recovered. He allowed just two hits and no runs over the next four innings and then exited the ballgame after the fifth inning. The Aeros added to their lead in the top of the sixth when Aguilar belted a solo home run on the first pitch he saw from Mike Kickham. It was the third home run of the season for Aguilar and the ball sailed over the fence in center field, the deepest part of The Diamond.

Meanwhile, Richmond struggled at the plate throughout the game. The Flying Squirrels did not pick up their first hit of the contest until the fifth inning when Daniel Mayora led off with a single. Richmond managed just three hits in the ballgame.

The Aeros tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Patric Tolentino singled to start the inning. Davis Stoneburner followed with an RBI double into the right-center field gap, which plated Tolentino. Stoneburner advanced to third base on a groundout by Henry and he scored when Holt lined an RBI single to right field.

Brach (5-7) limited Richmond to two hits in six scoreless innings and he earned the win. Heston (9-8) took the loss for Richmond after he allowed six hits and three earned runs in five innings of work.

Richmond finished the season with a 70-71 record. The Flying Squirrels open the season with a seven-game home stand against New Britain and Bowie. The 2013 home opener is April 4, 2013 against the New Britain Rock Cats at 6:35 PM.

Season ticket packages and mini-plans are now available and can be purchased by visiting SquirrelsBaseball.com.