Curve cruise to 10-3 win to close out road trip

RICHMOND, Va. - The Altoona Curve scored four runs in the first inning and six in the fifth and avoided being swept with a 10-3 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Wednesday afternoon at The Diamond.

The Curve (18-12) pulled ahead in the first inning and never trailed the Flying Squirrels (13-18).
Jordan Luplow capped a four-run first inning with a two-run homer, his team-leading sixth homer of the season. He finished the game with three RBIs.
Kevin Kramer and Edwin Espinal started the scoring with back-to-back doubles with one out in the first.
Kramer extended his on-base streak to 27 games to open up the season.
Richmond answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Chris Shaw hit a two-run double and Jeff Arnold added a sacrifice fly to cut the Curve lead to 4-3.
Altoona starting pitcher Brandon Waddell did not record an out and allowed three runs on two hits and three walks before giving way to Tate Scioneaux, who worked four scoreless innings and allowed one hit with no walks and two strikeouts.
The Curve opened up the lead in the fifth inning with an RBI double by Espinal. Luplow and Chase Simpson each brought in runs with infield singles, Elvis Escobar hit a pinch-hit single and Pablo Reyes plated a run with a groundout to cap the six-run frame. Twelve Curve hitters came to the plate in the inning.
Luis Heredia (Win, 1-1) entered to start the bottom of the fifth and pitched three scoreless innings to earn his first Double-A win, working around one hit and two walks. Montana DuRapau struck out three over two scoreless frames.
Espinal finished the game 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Richmond starting pitcher Sam Coonrod (Loss, 1-3) allowed a season-high seven runs over 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts.
Altoona shortstop Kevin Newman was removed from the game after being hit with a pitch in the first inning. The team did not have any further updates on his status at the conclusion of the game.
The Curve return home to open a four-game homestand against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Right-hander Austin Coley (1-1, 3.47) is scheduled to start for the Curve, opposed by New Hampshire right-hander Connor Greene (1-2, 3.57).
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the gates open at 5 p.m. for Ladies Night, featuring Tame Your Mane, LuLaRoe by April Harmon and more. It will also be Thirstday, presented by Q94, featuring $2 specials on 16 oz. Bud Light and small sodas, plus $1 Juniata by Kunzler-brand hot dogs. It will also be a Ritchey's Dairy Curve Kids' Club Game. For tickets and more information, stop by the PNG Field offices, visit AltoonaCurve.com or call 877.99.CURVE.
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