RubberDucks' rally falls short in Richmond, 5-4

Yu Chang his his team-leading 17th home run, a three-run shot as a part of a four-run ninth for the RubberDucks, who eventually fell short to the Flying Squirrels 5-4 at The Diamond. (David Monseur)

June 25, 2017

RubberDucks Game RecapFlying Squirrels 5 RubberDucks 4WP: Jose Flores (2-2) LP: Michael Peoples (2-2) Save: Collin Balester (1) SummaryFormer Akron pitcher Jose Flores threw six shutout innings for Richmond Sunday, and the Flying Squirrels outlasted the Akron RubberDucks, 5-4, in the finale of a weekend series at The Diamond in Richmond,

RubberDucks Game Recap
Flying Squirrels 5 RubberDucks 4
WP: Jose Flores (2-2) LP: Michael Peoples (2-2) Save: Collin Balester (1)

Summary
Former Akron pitcher Jose Flores threw six shutout innings for Richmond Sunday, and the Flying Squirrels outlasted the Akron RubberDucks, 5-4, in the finale of a weekend series at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia.

Turning Point
The RubberDucks (36-34) entered the ninth inning down 5-0, but came off the mat to score four runs off closer Tyler Cyr on a sacrifice fly by Luigi Rodriguez and a three-run homer by Yu Chang. After Dorssys Paulino singled, Cyr was taken out in favor of veteran right-hander Colin Balester. Facing Joe Sever with the tying run on first and two outs, Balester induced a fly ball to shallow right field to end the game and pick up his first save.

Winging It
Flores (2-2) was masterful in his six innings of work. He scattered three hits, walked none and struck out seven. Flores saved 16 games as the closer for the Akron Aeros in 2013. He is in his first season with the Giants organization. Michael Peoples (2-2) started and lost for Akron, going six innings and allowing four runs (three earned). It was Peoples's first outing with the RubberDucks since being sent back from Triple-A Columbus, where he made seven starts.

Duck Tales
Eric Haase was 2-4, with a triple. Paulino reached base three times with two singles and a walk. Mike Papi singled in the ninth inning in his first game back with the RubberDucks after spending a month with Columbus.

Notebook
The RubberDucks finished 3-3 on the road trip…The Flying Squirrels (31-43) scored three runs off Peoples in the third inning, including a solo homer by Dylan Davis…Akron committed three errors…Chang now ranks second in the EL with 17 homers…Time of Game: 2:31… Attendance: 4,171.

On Deck
The RubberDucks will return home on Monday night to start a four-game series against Erie at 7:05. That game kicks off an eight-game homestand. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App.