Sept. 6: Ducks drop fourth straight, 7-5 in Richmond

September 6, 2024 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Richmond Flying Squirrels (27-34, 61-69) 7, Akron RubberDucks (39-22, 76-54) 5

WP: Cameron Cotter (2-1) LP: Jack Leftwich (4-6) Save: none

Summary

Akron right fielder Jorge Burgos homered for a second straight game as the RubberDucks built a 5-0 lead in the first three innings, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels rallied to tie the game in the seventh and take the lead in the eighth for a 7-5 victory and fourth straight win in the fourth game of a six-game series at The Diamond Thursday night.

Turning Point

With the game tied, 5-5, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Richmond left fielder Turner Hill hit a leadoff single against right-hander Jack Leftwich and went to third base on a double by right fielder Victor Bericoto. With the infield in, catcher Andy Thomas reached on a ground ball to shortstop Milan Tolentino, scoring Hill for the go-ahead run. First baseman Matt Higgins placed a squeeze bunt down the first-base line to score Bericoto and make it 7-5.

Mound Presence

Akron right-hander Aaron Davenport worked around a leadoff single in the first inning and stranded the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings. In the fifth, however, he allowed a one-out single to designated hitter Bryce Eldridge and an RBI double to Bericoto. Higgins walked with two outs, and second baseman Justin Wishkoski singled to drive in a run to make it 5-2. Right-hander Alaska Abney allowed third baseman Andrew Kachel’s RBI single that made it 5-3. Davenport allowed three earned runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking a season-high four batters and striking out four. Abney allowed the tying runs on three hits in the seventh, tying the game and ending Abney’s 22-inning scoreless streak. He finished 2 1/3 innings before Leftwich began the eighth.

Duck Tales

Akron grabbed an early lead against right-hander Dylan Cumming, as he made an errant throw on designated hitter Cooper Ingle’s leadoff ground ball. First baseman C.J. Kayfus doubled to left field, scoring Ingle, and Burgos crushed a 433-foot home run to right field for a 3-0 lead. Second baseman Kahlil Watson walked, went to second base on a balk, to third on catcher Kody Huff’s infield single and scored on center fielder Joe Lampe’s groundout. In the third, Tolentino reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base and later scored on a single by third baseman Yordys Valdés.

The @CleGuardians minor league RBI leader @CJK_3121 does it again!

#89 of his season, #52 with Akron on a @flooranddecor double!

TOP 1 | Akron 1 | Richmond 0 pic.twitter.com/OReWDtkfsG

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 6, 2024

Jorge Burgos💣

His 2nd straight night with a Western Reserve Distillers🍸 HOME RUN!
109 mph 🔥 433 feet

TOP 1 | Akron 3 | Richmond 0 pic.twitter.com/rXH5p1UvT2

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 6, 2024

Yordys Valdés adds a 2-out RBI single!

TOP 3 | Akron 5 | Richmond 0 pic.twitter.com/F9qlhVvI7l

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 7, 2024

Notebook

Burgos has three home runs in his first eight Double-A games…Richmond handed Akron its first four-game losing streak of the second half and first six-game series loss of the second half…Akron holds a 10-9 lead in the season series with Richmond…Game Time: 2:43…Attendance: 9,346.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their series in Richmond at 6:05 p.m. Saturday at The Diamond. Akron right-hander Trent Denholm (4-1, 2.70 ERA) is scheduled to face Flying Squirrels right-hander Nick Morreale (0-1, 2.00 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.