Late Rally Falls Short on Friday Night in Richmond
RICHMOND, VA. – Altoona stranded five baserunners over the final two innings, including the bases loaded to end the ballgame, in a 5-3 loss at Richmond on Friday night at The Diamond. Oneil Cruz recorded team-best seventh multi-hit game of the season and extended his hit streak to nine straight
RICHMOND, VA. – Altoona stranded five baserunners over the final two innings, including the bases loaded to end the ballgame, in a 5-3 loss at Richmond on Friday night at The Diamond.
Oneil Cruz recorded team-best seventh multi-hit game of the season and extended his hit streak to nine straight games with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Cruz doubled in the first inning off Richmond starter Sean Hjelle and singled in the seventh inning. During his nine-game hit streak, Cruz is batting .359 with two doubles, one triple, three home runs and has driven in ten runs.
Altoona took the first lead on a solo home run from Mason Martin in the second inning in support of Trey McGough who was making his Double-A debut on Friday night. McGough struck out six in 3.2 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks. The Johnstown, PA native threw a season-high 68 pitches and was charged with the loss.
Richmond scored twice in the second inning and twice more in the fourth inning in support of their 6’11’’ starter, Sean Hjelle. Hjelle pitched into the seventh inning and earned the win, he allowed one run on four hits and no walks. He struck out a season-high seven on 80 pitches.
The Curve rallied for a run in the eighth inning when Josh Bissonette drove in Daniel Amaral with a single to centerfield. After Deon Stafford doubled to put men on second and third with two out, but Norwith Gudino struck out Jonah Davis and got Oneil Cruz to fly out to left and end the threat.
Altoona made things interesting in the ninth when Rodolfo Castro doubled to begin the inning. After Martin had a base hit taken away from him by shortstop Shane Matheny, Canaan Smith-Njigba singled in Castro to make it a 5-3 game. Amaral and pinch-hitter Cal Mitchell each drew walks against Raffi Vizcaino to load the bases with one out, but Jose Marte entered and struck out Brendt Citta and Raul Hernandez to end the ballgame.
Cruz, Castro and Amaral each recorded two-hit days at the plate as Altoona collected ten hits in the defeat.
Brad Case delivered 3.1 innings of one-run relief, his longest outing of the season.
The Curve continue their six-game series at The Diamond in Richmond, VA on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. RHP Osvaldo Bido (0-0, 2.70) will make his fifth start of the season for Altoona, Richmond will start LHP Phil Pfeifer (AA debut).
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.
See ya later!! 👋 @masonmartin7 blasts his fifth home run of the season, tying @OneilCruz4 for a team high. We lead it 1-0 entering the bottom of the second.
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) June 4, 2021
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf pic.twitter.com/LnuszlZxB2