Martin's big day backs Keller in Curve victory

CURVE, Pa. - A three-hit day from Jason Martin complimented a seven-inning start by Mitch Keller as the Altoona Curve downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 7-6, on Saturday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
The Curve (8-6) pounded out a season-high 14 hits and set a new season-best in runs scored while the Flying Squirrels (11-5) scored all six of their runs on three homers.
Martin broke a 2-2 tie in the second inning with a towering, two-run homer to right field off Richmond starter Cory Taylor (Loss, 2-1). The round-tripper by Martin was the Curve's first home run in eight games.
Despite surrendering two home runs, Keller (Win, 2-0) fanned seven Richmond batters and became the second Curve starter to complete seven innings in a start this season.
Martin, acquired by the Pirates in the Gerrit Cole trade in January, singled in the first inning and scored when Elvis Escobar knocked home two as the Curve claimed a 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Martin legged out a leadoff double for his third hit of the day and scored on an RBI-single by Jordan George . Martin flied out to left in the sixth inning and walked in his final at bat during the seventh inning.
Richmond tied the ballgame at 2-2 when Matt Lipka lifted a pitch from Keller over the left field wall for a two-run homer. Dillon Dobson started the seventh inning with a solo shot to left off Keller and Richmond pulled within two runs at the time.
Altoona responded with a pair of runs after the stretch and increased their lead to 7-3. Christian Kelley smacked an RBI double to plate Wyatt Mathisen , and Kelley scored a vital run on a wild pitch by Richmond reliever Ray Black with the bases loaded.
Sean Keselica was the first reliever to appear behind Keller's seven innings. Keselica retired the first two batters he faced before Richmond got a pair on and Jerry Sands slugged a three-run homer to separate the Curve and Flying Squirrels by one run.
Yeudy Garcia (Save, 2) emerged from the bullpen and recorded the final four outs on the hill for Altoona with a pair of Richmond baserunners stranded in the ninth.
In his first start with the Curve in 2018, George went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Ke'Bryan Hayes , Martin, Mathisen and Kelley all notched multi-hit games as seven members of the Altoona order recorded at least one hit. The Curve went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base.
The Curve complete their three-game against the Flying Squirrels on Sunday. Pirates' top left-handed pitching prospect Taylor Hearn (0-1, 0.82) will start for Altoona while Richmond sends right-hander Shaun Anderson (2-1, 2.12) to the mound for the rubber match.
Sunday is a Ritchey's Dairy Kids' Club Game, which is free to join for children ages 3-12. Prior to Sunday's game, all kids with a ticket for the game can sharpen their baseball skills with Curve players and coaches on the field from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. First pitch at PNG Field on Sunday is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the ballpark gates open at 1 p.m.
For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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