Pesky Squirrels Drive Curve Nuts In Sweep on Thursday
Win: Matt Lujan (1-2)
Loss: Angel Sanchez (2-1)
Save: Josh Osich (3)
TOG: 2:38
Attendance: 4,815
CURVE, Pa. - The Curve's trouble with the Richmond Flying Squirrels continued on Thursday as the Squirrels completed the four-game sweep with a, 4-2, win in front of 4,815 at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Stetson Allie homered for the third time this season while Max Moroff added two more hits to run his on-base streak to 23 games in the loss.
Richmond scored a run off Angel Sanchez (2-1) in the first when Devin Harris singled home Kelby Tomlinson but Sanchez would recover to hold the damage at one run.
Things took a turn for the better when Adam Frazier led off the Curve's at bats with a single and then trotted home when Allie launched the homer over the left field wall. It was the third home run of the season for Allie and it was the first time the Curve had led in series.
Up 2-1, Sanchez spun a scoreless second but was touched up for a run in the third when another ball hit by Ricky Oropesa bounced off a Curve pitcher. Scoring on the play was Harris and the game was knotted at two.
In the very next inning, Javier Herrera clubbed a two-run homer with two outs that proved to be the game-winning hit as neither team scored the rest of the way.
The Curve had chances, loading up the bases in the fourth thanks to three walks but the pitcher Sanchez flew out to end in the inning. In the sixth, the Curve put two on with two out and used Josh Bell as a pinch hitter but Bell grounded out to end the threat.
Sanchez finished six innings and allowed a season-high four runs on eight hits before giving way to the bullpen. John Kuchno (two scoreless innings) and Yhonathan Barrios (one scoreless frame) kept it close in the loss.
Done with Richmond until July, the Curve (15-10) will travel back to the capital of the commonwealth to renew the season series with the Harrisburg Senators at 6:30 p.m. Friday night from Metro Bank Park. Pirates RHP Charlie Morton is expected to make a rehab start for the Curve on Friday while RHP Brian Rauh (0-2, 8.71) starts for the 'Sens.
Altoona returns home Monday to welcome in the Bowie Baysox to open another seven-game homestand. Airtime for Friday night's game in Harrisburg on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the box office at PNG Field.
-CURVE-