Richmond was pesky. Butler prevailed.

The RiverRats came from behind twice to tie, but the BlueSox answered in the next half inning each time and earned a 6-4 victory in Prospect League action on Thursday night at Pullman Park.

Butler (5-4) was cruising early behind a strong start from pitcher Kyle Thomas, who didn’t allow a hit until Tyler Mikrut singled to right field in the sixth.

Thomas went 7 2-3 innings and gave up four runs — one earned — on five hits. He struck out only three, but efficiently threw 11 pitches or less in six of the eight innings he took the mound.

BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski was pleased to see an effective Thomas after the lefty lasted just two frames in his first appearance on opening night.

“He battled back and had an outstanding day,” said Rebyanski. “I told him throughout the last eight days, ‘Kyle, you just have to throw strikes. Make them beat you with their bats.’

“He did just that today. I tip my hat to him.”

However, the resilient RiverRats (3-6) prevented Thomas from picking up the win. Nolan Earley chased him from the game with his third RBI of the night to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth.

John Rossi was the winning pitcher after escaping a bases-loaded jam.

Rossi entered the contest with runners at second and third with two outs and walked the first batter he faced to fill the bases.

Derek Trovillion followed with a sharp grounder to third, where Kyle Petty bobbled the ball. However, he stuck with it and fired to a stretched-out Eric Hess at first base to narrowly retire Trovillion.

“It’s two nights in a row we’ve had a tough one — tied the ballgame up late and had a chance to go ahead and just didn’t get it done,” said Richmond manager Tyler Lairson. “It’s tough for the morale, but our guys played hard and gave a good effort.”

Matt Albaugh led off the eighth with an infield single and Hess stroked a base hit to center to spark the winning rally for the BlueSox.

The next batter, Neal Jacobs, hit a towering shot to deep center off Alex Sroka, but it was chased down on the run by Dwayne Highsmith, Jr.

The relay back to the infield went awry, however, as shortstop Raymond Delvalle let it squirt into no-man’s land. Albaugh, who was tagging up from second, scooted around third to plate the go-ahead run. Two batters later, Elliot Caldwell drove in Hess on a fielder’s choice to give Butler a 6-4 edge.

“Everybody is picking each other up and we’re coming through at the right time,” said Rebyanski. “If those guys start believing we can score in the seventh, eighth, ninth, it’s going to build momentum and confidence in these guys’ bats late in the game.”

Rebyanski called upon Adam Dian in the ninth and the right-handed Gibsonia native struck out all three batters he faced to seal the win. Dian now leads the Prospect League with 17 strikeouts on the season.

In the second inning, Jacobs gave Butler a 1-0 lead with an RBI triple to left-center field off Richmond starter Kyle Tibbs, who surrendered three earned runs on eight hits in five innings.

The BlueSox made it 2-0 after Albaugh doubled with two outs in the fourth and Hess followed with an RBI single. The duo combined to go 6-for-8 with four runs scored and an RBI.

Two-out hits from Caldwell and Chris Rasky gave Butler a 3-0 lead after five innings.

The RiverRats fought back in the sixth. Michael Meredith reached on an error to lead off and Mikrut broke up the no-hitter in the next at-bat. Jake Welch had a bloop-RBI single to left and Earley belted a two-RBI double to tie the game.

Justin Brozick answered in the bottom half of the sixth with an RBI single to center, scoring Jason Radwan, who drew a leadoff walk.

“We can’t walk guys,” said Lairson. “We have to go after them.”

The BlueSox, who had at least one base runner in every inning, are back above .500 and sit second in the East Division.

“They come to the ballpark every day excited. They want to win,” said Rebyanski of his team. “They have a lot of fight.”

Richmond 000 003 010 — 4 5 1

Butler 010 111 02x — 6 12 1

W: John Rossi 1-3 IP (0K, 1BB). L: Alex Sroka 1 2-3 IP (0K, 3BB).

Richmond (3-6): Jake Welch 2-1B, 2-R, RBI; Nolan Earley 1B, 2B, 3-RBI; Michael Meredith R; Tyler Mikrut 1B, R.

Butler BlueSox (5-4): Elliott Caldwell 2-1B, R, RBI; Chris Rasky 1B, RBI; Kyle Petty 1B; Jason Radwan R; Matt Albaugh 2B, 2-1B, 2-R; Eric Hess 3-1B, 2-R, RBI; Neal Jacobs 3B, RBI; Justin Brozick 1B, RBI.

Friday: Richmond at Butler BlueSox, 6:35 p.m., at Pullman Park