Flying Squirrels cap record season with CarMax Park playoff first
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The Squirrels earlier in September. Photo: Alyssa McDaniel/Diamond Images via Getty Images
It's been another season of record-breaking firsts for the Flying Squirrels.
Why it matters: Richmond loves its team.
Driving the news: In its first season, CarMax Park has already delivered the biggest crowds in the Double-A baseball team's history — and now its first playoff game.
- The Squirrels will host the Erie SeaWolves at 6:45pm Thursday in Game 2 of the best-of-three Eastern League Southwest Division Series.
- Richmond will have to win two games (Thursday and an if-necessary game Friday) to advance to the Championship Series next week.
- The Squirrels lost 18-6 in Game 1 of the Southwest Division Series on Tuesday night at Erie.
By the numbers: The Squirrels drew a franchise-record 468,961 fans this season, averaging 7,105 per game.
- That led all 30 Double-A Minor League Baseball teams in total and average attendance for the fifth consecutive season.
- The previous franchise record was 463,942, set during the Flying Squirrels' inaugural season in 2010.
- It was also the highest total attendance for an Eastern League team in 21 years.
State of play (ball): Richmond punched its playoff ticket by clinching the Southwest Division's first-half title in just 60 games.
- Now it has to win back-to-back games to advance to the EL Championship Series for the third time in franchise history.
- The Squirrels have never won an Eastern League championship, but made the final series in 2011 and 2014.
If you go: Tickets start at $12.70 and are still available for Thursday's game online, at the CarMax Park box office or by calling 804-359-3866.
- If the Squirrels win Thursday, the deciding Game 3 will be at CarMax Park on Friday at 6:45pm.