Curve swept in double-header, drop fourth straight

CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve were swept in a double-header by the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Saturday, losing 6-2 and 3-2.
The Curve (32-28) have now dropped four straight games and will look to avoid the four-game sweep against the Flying Squirrels (27-34) on Sunday.

Game One
Richmond scored all six of its runs in the second inning.
Jeff Arnold started the scoring for the Flying Squirrels with a two-run home run to left field. Later in the inning, following back-to-back singles, Myles Schroder hit a two-run triple. Two batters later, Miguel Gómez hit the second two-run home run of the inning for Richmond, giving the Flying Squirrels a 6-0 lead.
Altoona got a run back In the fourth inning when Edwin Espinal led off with a double. A wild pitch allowed him to advance to third before an RBI ground out from Jordan Luplow drove him home to put the Curve on the board.
Another run was added for Altoona in the bottom of the seventh. Two singles and a passed ball put runners on second and third for the Curve and a ground ball off the bat of pinch-hitter Chase Simpson knocked in Wyatt Mathisen to cut the lead to 6-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Espinal came up with the bases loaded representing the tying run but flew out to left field to end the game.
Elvis Escobar  had his third three-hit game of the year going 3-for-3 at the plate for Altoona.
Austin Coley (Loss, 1-2) threw five innings for the Curve and allowed all six Richmond runs. He gave up nine hits while striking out three and walking two. Buddy Borden came on in relief for Coley and worked two scoreless innings, striking out two without allowing a hit.
Andrew Suárez (Win, 4-4) started for Richmond and went 6.2 innings, falling just short of the seven-inning complete game. Carlos Alvarado (Save, 2) came on to record the final out to secure the win.
Game Two
Richmond jumped out to another quick start off of Curve starter Sean Keselica (Loss, 3-1) on its way to the win.
The Flying Squirrels scored all three runs in the first inning. Three consecutive singles from Schroder, Jerry Sands and Brandon Bednar scored the first run. A two-out single from Carlos Garcia scored both Sands and Bednar to give the Flying Squirrels a 3-0 lead.
The Curve pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth when Mathisen came around to score from second on a throwing error by Rando Moreno, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Altoona added another run in the bottom of the seventh. A pinch-hit single from Luplow scored Jerrick Suiter  to make it a one-run game, but the Curve could not complete the comeback. 
Keselica pitched four innings and gave up three runs, allowing seven hits with four strikeouts. Tate Scioneaux came on in relief and pitched three perfect innings, striking out three.
Collin Balester started for Richmond, throwing four innings and giving up one unearned run. He allowed two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Ryan Halstead (Win, 1-0) pitched in relief for 1.1 innings and only surrendered one hit while striking out one. Jarret Martin threw 0.2 innings without giving up a run and picking up one strikeout. Tyler Cyr (Save, 7) allowed one run in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game. 
The Curve will try to avoid the series sweep against Richmond on Sunday. The Curve will send right-hander Tanner Anderson (3-6, 4.37) to the mound while the Flying Squirrels will counter with right-hander Jose Flores (1-0, 1.21). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at People's Natural Gas Field
Sunday will be Paw Patrol Night, featuring an appearance by Chase and Marshall. There will be a Pregame Catch on the Field, presented by PA Cyber where fans can bring their glove and head down to the field when the gates open one hour prior to first pitch. Toss the ball around with your parents, kids, siblings or friends until 30 minutes prior to the start of the game.
Sunday also features Fireworks following the game, plus kids run the bases post-game. For tickets or more information, visit altoonacurve.com, call 877. 99. CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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