The Richmond Flying Squirrels continued their strong start to the season with a dramatic comeback win over the Altoona Curve on Thursday night. Playing at CarMax Park in Richmond, Virginia, the home team secured a narrow 3-2 victory after a late rally in the eighth inning.
The win pushed Richmond’s record to 5-1 and extended its current winning streak to five games. It also kept CarMax Park unbeaten for the Flying Squirrels this season.
Early Lead and Altoona’s Response
Richmond opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Turner Hill started the momentum with a double and later crossed the plate when Zach Morgan lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Flying Squirrels a 1-0 lead.
Altoona responded in the fifth inning to level the score. Javier Rivas delivered an RBI single that brought a runner home and tied the game at 1-1, shifting the pressure back onto the Richmond lineup.
Curve Take Temporary Lead in Seventh
The Curve briefly grabbed the advantage in the seventh inning. Shawn Ross connected for a solo home run that pushed Altoona ahead 2-1 and put Richmond in a late-game deficit.
However, the Flying Squirrels remained patient at the plate and waited for their opportunity to respond.
Sabin Ceballos Delivers Game-Changing Hit
Richmond’s turning point came in the eighth inning. The team loaded the bases to set up a crucial scoring chance.
Sabin Ceballos stepped up and delivered a two-run single that drove in Bo Davidson and Scott Bandura. The hit flipped the score to 3-2 and gave the Flying Squirrels the lead heading into the final inning.
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Pferrer Closes the Game on the Mound
Reliever Cameron Pferrer played a major role in securing the victory. He pitched a perfect eighth inning and returned for a clean ninth to close out the game without allowing any runs.
His performance ensured that Richmond’s late comeback held up and sealed the team’s fifth straight win.
Match Result
| Team | Opponent | Score | Venue | Date | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Flying Squirrels | Altoona Curve | 3–2 | CarMax Park, Richmond, Va. | Thursday night | 5–1 |
| Altoona Curve | Richmond Flying Squirrels | 2–3 | CarMax Park, Richmond, Va. | Thursday night | 0–6 |
Key Player Performances
Several players made important contributions during the game.
| Player | Team | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Sabin Ceballos | Richmond | Two-run single in the eighth inning |
| Turner Hill | Richmond | Doubled and scored the opening run |
| Zach Morgan | Richmond | Sacrifice fly RBI in the fourth inning |
| Javier Rivas | Altoona | RBI single in the fifth inning |
| Shawn Ross | Altoona | Solo home run in the seventh inning |
| Cameron Pferrer | Richmond | Perfect eighth inning and scoreless ninth |
Richmond Matching Best Start in Franchise History
With the victory, Richmond improved to 5-1, matching the best six-game start in the franchise’s history. The Flying Squirrels have built early momentum with strong pitching and timely hitting during the opening week of the season.
Altoona, meanwhile, fell to 0-6 after another close loss.
Next Game in the Series
The series between Richmond and Altoona will continue Friday night at CarMax Park.
| Team | Starting Pitcher |
|---|---|
| Richmond Flying Squirrels | Joe Whitman |
| Altoona Curve | Peyton Stumbo |
Richmond will look to extend its winning streak further, while Altoona will aim to secure its first victory of the season.
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