Altoona Errors Cost Curve Series Finale in Richmond
RICHMOND, VA. – Rodolfo Castro kept his hot bat alive, batting in all three Curve runs, but his errors in the field cost Altoona the game in a 7-3 loss in Richmond on Sunday afternoon. The Curve (18-11) gave up five unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning
RICHMOND, VA. – Rodolfo Castro kept his hot bat alive, batting in all three Curve runs, but his errors in the field cost Altoona the game in a 7-3 loss in Richmond on Sunday afternoon.
The Curve (18-11) gave up five unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on two Castro errors to break open a tie game. With two outs and runners on first and second, David Villar reached on a throwing error by Castro, scoring both runners. Villar then scored after the next batter Bryan Torres singled and advanced to second on a Castro throwing error. Vince Fernandez then hit a two-run home run to cap off the big inning for Richmond (17-13) and make it a 6-1 game.
Fernandez had three RBI in the contest after hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning to make it a 1-0 ballgame. Altoona answered in the top of the sixth when Ji-Hwan Bae hit his third triple of the season and scored on a Castro sacrifice fly of Richmond starter Gerson Garabito to even the game 1-1. Bae finished with two extra-base hits in the loss.
The Curve rallied for two in the eighth inning when Castro doubled with the bases loaded and one out off Richmond reliever Norwith Gudino. Altoona then brought the tying run to the plate twice when Mason Martin and Cal Mitchell struck out to end the inning. Gudino picked up his fourth save of the season.
Ronnie Freeman added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with his first home run of the year. The solo shot off Curve reliever Hunter Stratton was the first run he has allowed since May 5.
Curve starter Jeff Passantino (Loss, 0-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on 5.1 IP. Shea Murray only managed one out in the sixth inning, allowing four unearned runs before Cam Vieaux ended the inning. Cam Alldred threw a scoreless seventh before Stratton allowed one in the eighth. Garabito (Win, 1-2) tossed six innings, allowing one run on five hits and six strikeouts.
Altoona took four of the six games in the series at Richmond. The Curve will return home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for a six-game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field against the Akron RubberDucks. RHP Roansy Contreras (3-1, 1.63) will make his sixth start of the season for Altoona. Akron will throw RHP Alex Royalty (1-1, 3.86)
Friday June 11 is a Josh Bell Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, presented by Unifirst. Sunday June 13th is the first Faith Night of the season, presented by TCC: Element. There will be live pregame music from TCC Worship and postgame faith themed fireworks presented by TCC: Element and White Deer Run Treatment Network.
For tickets or more information about Curve Baseball, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.
Rodolfo Castro ropes a double to score two! We trail the Flying Squirrels 6-3 in the top of the eighth.
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) June 6, 2021
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