Five-run eighth dooms Squirrels in 6-3 loss

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels fell, 6-3, to the Akron RubberDucks on Wednesday night at The Diamond.

Richmond (1-4) led, 3-0, entering the eighth before Akron (4-1) scored five runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Reliever Tyler Myrick (Loss, 0-1) entered with the bases loaded and no outs before working an RBI groundout by Kahlil Watson. After a walk and a strikeout, Dayan Frias hit a two-out, two-strike grand slam to put the RubberDucks ahead by two.

Watson added an RBI single in the top of the ninth to extend the Akron lead to 6-3.

Lenny Torres Jr. (Save, 2) stranded a runner on base in the ninth to end the game.

A Beri good way to start this one off 💪 pic.twitter.com/GTOYnPB4DY

— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 10, 2024

Victor Bericoto gave the Flying Squirrels at 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer to left.

Grant McCray's first Double-A hit doubles our lead! pic.twitter.com/bT7mdTPu5X

— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 10, 2024

In the bottom of the fourth, Carter Howell and Adrián Sugastey picked up back-to-back hits and Grant McCray drove in a run with a single to extend the lead to 2-0.

Five Ks over five scoreless innings tonight for @JMBertrand32 👏 pic.twitter.com/pZPcwfB4Ld

— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 11, 2024

John Michael Bertrand started and threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits with five strikeouts.

Some insurance in the 7th courtesy of @_HunterBishop_ 👌 pic.twitter.com/4rfoNAyOBx

— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 11, 2024

In the top of the seventh, Hunter Bishop hit an RBI single against Akron pitcher Trey Benton (Win, 1-1) to open a 3-0 lead.

Bericoto and Bishop both finished the game with three hits.

The series continues on Thursday night at The Diamond. Right-hander Carson Ragsdale (0-0, 4.50) will start for Richmond countered by Akron lefty Doug Kikhazy (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Thursday is VCU Night at The Diamond with post-game In-Your-Face Fireworks presented by Virginia Credit Union. The ballpark gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale for the rest of the season-opening homestand at The Diamond from Thursday through Sunday online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 (FUNN) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.