Stranded chances cost Squirrels in 13-inning loss
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Portland Sea Dogs, 5-4, in 13 innings on Wednesday night at CarMax Park.
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Portland Sea Dogs, 5-4, in 13 innings on Wednesday night at CarMax Park.
The Flying Squirrels (71-49, 28-24 second half) went 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left 18 on base, a new franchise record. The Sea Dogs (61-60, 26-27) snapped a five-game losing streak despite committing five errors.
Shane Rademacher started for Richmond and threw 3.2 scoreless innings, his longest outing of the season, with three strikeouts. Esmerlin Vinicio followed with 3.1 hitless and scoreless frames, striking out four. Ryan Vanderhei worked through the eighth and ninth without allowing a baserunner.
Portland pitchers Hayden Mullins and Max Carlson combined to strand nine runners on base over the first eight innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Flying Squirrels opened the inning with back-to-back walks before a strikeout and a double-play groundout sent the game into extras.
The Sea Dogs broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 10th with an RBI single by Caden Rose to score placed runner Ronald Rosario.
No. Shutouts. Tonight.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) August 27, 2026
It took until the 10th inning, but we’re on the board thanks to a sacrifice fly by Lisbel Diaz! pic.twitter.com/ojeFwPbH2A
In the bottom of the 10th, Dayson Croes bunted placed runner Trevor Cohen to third and Lisbel Diaz brought him in to score with a sacrifice fly, tying the game.
Both teams were held scoreless in the 11th inning. Tyler Vogel stranded a runner at third in the top of the frame. Jeremy Wu-Yelland (Win, 3-1) worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the frame.
STILL FIGHTING IN THE 12TH 😤 pic.twitter.com/smZHyyTXO7
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) August 27, 2026
In the top of the 12th, Henry Godbout moved the Sea Dogs ahead, 2-1, with a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 12th, Diaz stole third and scored on a throwing error to even the score, 2-2, but the Flying Squirrels stranded runners at second and third.
The Sea Dogs took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 13th with an RBI double by Max Furguson. Yoelin Cespedes followed with a two-run homer against Marques Johnson (Loss, 2-2) to open a 5-2 lead.
Portland brought in infielder Ahbram Liendo (Save, 1) to pitch in the bottom of the 13th. He issued a walk and worked a pop-out before Cohen brought in a run with a groundout to cut the deficit to 5-3. With two outs, Croes reached on a fielding error to bring home Jean Carlos Sió and pull Richmond within a run, but Diaz popped out to end the game.
Richmond stranded 18 runners on base, passing the previous franchise record of 16 set in 2013, twice in 2014 and most recently in 2023.
At 13 innings, the game tied the longest by the Flying Squirrels since Minor League Baseball adopted the rule placing a runner on second base to begin extra innings in 2019. Richmond had two 13-inning games that first season. Wednesday was the first since that year to reach 13 innings.
The loss dropped the Flying Squirrels to 10-1 in extra innings this season.
Croes finished the night 3-for-5 with two walks. After going 3-for-3 in Tuesday’s win, Croes had three hits and two walks through the 10th inning on Wednesday, stretching his on-base streak to eight consecutive plate appearances.
Rademacher has posted a 2.29 ERA (5 ER/19.2 IP) in his last nine appearances since July 3.
In his last 17 outings since June 20, Vanderhei is 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA (1 ER/23.1 IP). He has thrown four consecutive appearances without allowing a run and eight straight without allowing an earned run.
The series continues Thursday night. Right-hander Miguel Mendez (0-0, 0.00) makes his CarMax Park debut for Richmond opposed by Portland right-hander Steven Brooks (0-1, 5.59). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Thursday is Grateful Dead Night and the team will be wearing special Grateful Dead jerseys that are being auctioned at FlyingSquirrelsAuctions.com with proceeds benefiting Flying Squirrels Charities. JBL Live! Band and DJ Carter Baldwin will perform pregame. Fireworks presented by Chick-fil-A follow the game.
Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the CarMax Park ticket office. Tickets for the Flying Squirrels’ home playoff games at CarMax Park on sale now at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Playoffs.