Flying Squirrels sweep opening series at CarMax Park

The minor league team wins all 6 games in their new stadium's debut

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:46am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with the field, players, and stadium rendered in sharp, overlapping planes of bright colors representing the team uniforms.The Flying Squirrels' thrilling opening series sweep at their new stadium showcases the team's renewed energy and the vibrant community support for minor league baseball in Altoona.Altoona Today

The Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, completed a historic 6-0 sweep of their opening series at the brand new CarMax Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Squirrels defeated the Altoona Curve in dramatic fashion, winning 9-8 on a walk-off hit on Saturday and then taking a tight 2-1 pitchers' duel on Sunday.

Why it matters

The Flying Squirrels' perfect start at their new state-of-the-art stadium is a major milestone for the franchise, which has struggled with attendance and performance issues in recent years. The sweep also marks an auspicious beginning for CarMax Park, which cost $250 million to construct and is seen as a key part of Altoona's efforts to revitalize its downtown.

The details

In the Saturday game, the Squirrels rallied from an 8-6 deficit in the bottom of the 9th inning, scoring 3 runs to win 9-8. On Sunday, the teams engaged in a pitchers' duel that was decided by a 2-1 final score. The Squirrels' strong start has energized their fanbase and raised hopes that the new stadium will help the team return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

  • The opening series at CarMax Park took place from April 10-12, 2026.
  • The Squirrels won all 6 games played during the opening weekend.

The players

Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Double-A minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, playing in the Eastern League.

Altoona Curve

The Double-A minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing in the Eastern League and based in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

CarMax Park

A brand new $250 million baseball stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania that serves as the home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

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What they’re saying

“This opening weekend was everything we could have hoped for. The fans were electric and the team really fed off that energy to get us off to an amazing start in our new home.”

— Joe Fitzsimmons, General Manager, Richmond Flying Squirrels

What’s next

The Flying Squirrels will look to continue their hot start as they host the Binghamton Rumble Ponies for a 3-game series starting on April 14th.

The takeaway

The Flying Squirrels' perfect opening series at their brand new $250 million stadium has energized the team and its fanbase, providing hope that the franchise can return to the playoffs and thrive in their state-of-the-art new home.