Squirrels shut out to open 12-game road trip
AKRON, Ohio – The Richmond Flying Squirrels were shut out by the Akron RubberDucks, 3-0, on Tuesday night to open their 12-game road trip.
AKRON, Ohio – The Richmond Flying Squirrels were shut out by the Akron RubberDucks, 3-0, on Tuesday night to open their 12-game road trip.
The Flying Squirrels (11-11) were held to five hits as the RubberDucks (14-8) picked up their eighth consecutive win and their league-leading fifth shutout of the season.
The RubberDucks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning against Flying Squirrels starter Ryan Murphy (Loss, 1-2). Kody Huff led off the inning with a double and came in to score on a single by Yordys Valdez.
In the top of the fourth, Richmond put runners on second and third with one out, but Akron starter Tommy Mace (Win, 3-1) recorded back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam.
Kahlil Waston led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run and Petey Halpin hit a two-out, RBI single in the fifth to extend the Akron lead to 3-0.
Evan Gates strands a runner with two strikeouts as we head to the seventh in Akron pic.twitter.com/guLF6KnLlm
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 1, 2024
Murphy pitched five innings and allowed three runs with no walks and four strikeouts. Evan Gates threw two scoreless innings and struck out four batters.
Bradley Hanner pitched two scoreless innings out of the Akron bullpen and Jack Leftwich (Save, 2) threw a 1-2-3 ninth to close the game.
Andy Thomas accounted for two of Richmond’s five hits, going 2-for-3 with a double. Will Wilson had a single and a walk.
The game concluded in one hour and 57 minutes, the shortest nine-inning game in the Eastern League this year and second-shortest overall.
The series continues on Wednesday night at Canal Park. Right-hander Matt Frisbee (0-2, 8.31) will start for Richmond countered by Akron lefty Rodney Boone (1-0, 2.95). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron.
Following the two-week road trip, the Flying Squirrels return to The Diamond May 14-19 to face the Reading Fightin Phils. Tickets are on sale online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 (FUNN) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.