Curve blank Squirrels, earn series victory

CURVE, Pa. - Cody Bolton tossed five shutout innings in route to a 2-0 win for the Altoona Curve over the Richmond Flying Squirrels Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Bolton (Win, 2-2) led the shutout victory for the Curve (58-58, 22-26) over the Flying Squirrels (42-72, 19-28). He limited Richmond to four hits, fanned three, walked two and worked around one baserunner in each of his five innings.

Oneil Cruz put the Curve on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI single to score Jared Oliva . Oliva reached base on a fielder's choice and went from first to third on a passed ball to set up Cruz's knock into right field off Richmond starter Chase Johnson (Loss, 0-5). It was the fourth RBI and fifth hit in the first home series for the Pirates' No. 3 prospect.
The Curve extended the lead in the seventh with back-to-back doubles, including a pitch-hit double from Beau Sulser off reliever Garrett Williams. After Williams retired the first two hitters, Brett Pope doubled over the right fielder's head to extend the inning for the pitcher's slot. Sulser, a right-handed reliever, was called on to pinch hit and delivered his fourth RBI of the season to double Altoona's lead.
The Curve received two scoreless relief innings from Clay Holmes , who made his second Major League rehab appearance in the win. He entered in the sixth and retired the side in order. In the seventh, Holmes allowed a lead-off triple to Gio Brusa but proceeded to strike out three straight to exit the jam.
Angel German struck out two in a scoreless eighth before Blake Cederlind (Save, 1) picked up his first save of the season with a hitless ninth. Richmond did bring the tying run to the plate after an error at short by Cruz, but the 6-foot-6 shortstop started a game-ending double play on the next pitch.
Brusa led all players with three hits, missing a home run for the cycle. Brett Pope picked up two hits to lead the Curve. Bralin Jackson also picked up a pinch-hit double during the fifth inning.
The win for Altoona secured their first series win since the All-Star Break, snapping a streak of six straight losing series. It was the final game of a 21-game season series versus the Flying Squirrels, which the Curve owned 13 wins to eight for Richmond.
The Curve are back in action on Friday Night when the Reading Fightin' Phils, Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, come into town. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Curve left-hander Domingo Robles (2-5, 5.22) set to face-off against Reading right-hander Spencer Howard (0-0, 3.38).
Gates will open for fans at 6 p.m. on Friday. There will be Aerosmith-themed FIREWORKS after the game, presented by Home Helpers, PA One Call & Unlimited Cycle Center. It's another FastPlay Friday as fans can text the weekly code and receive a FREE FastPlay ticket, presented by the Pennsylvania Lottery. It's also Developmental Differences Night, presented by Home Helpers, and 811 Night, presented by PA One Call. For tickets or more information about upcoming promotions, 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.
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