Flying Squirrels smack three homers to top Altoona
RICHMOND, Va. -Ryan Howard, Jalen Miller and Jonah Arenado all hit home runs to lead the Richmond Flying Squirrels to an 8-4 win over the Altoona Curve on Thursday night in front of 7,959 fans at The Diamond.
RICHMOND, Va. -Ryan Howard,
Leading 5-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Richmond (6-8) used two home runs to extend its lead. Miller led off the frame with a solo blast to left-his team-leading third homer of the season-to make it 6-3. Four batters later with a runner on first and two outs, Arenado connected on moonshot down the left-field line to put the Flying Squirrels ahead, 8-3.
Altoona (6-8) started the scoring, taking an early lead against left-hander
Richmond (7-5) battled back with two runs in the bottom of the second. After
The Curve tied the score in the very next half-inning when
With the Flying Squirrels and Curve tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, Howard smacked the first home run of the game for Richmond, sending a 1-0 pitch from
Richmond tacked on two more in the bottom of the fourth. Following back-to-back singles from Heyward and Arenado, Marte came through by punching an RBI single through the left side. Menez followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Arenado and extend Richmond's lead to 5-2.
Menez polished off his outing by retiring six of the last seven batters he faced. The left-hander struck out a season-high eight batters across five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk to earn his first win of the year.
The Curve tried to rally in the ninth, scoring on run on an RBI single from Stephen Alemais. On the play, however,
The Flying Squirrels continue their series against the Curve on Friday at 7:05 p.m., when left-hander
Friday's game is the second game at The Diamond this season where Richmond will transform into las Ardillas Voladoras as part of Minor League Baseball's "Copa de la Diversión" initiative, designed to engage with and embrace the local Latinx/Hispanic communities in cities across Minor League Baseball. The first 1,000 fans 15 and older will receive a luchador mask featuring the Ardillas Voladoras logo.
Every Friday home game at The Diamond also features happy hour drink specials from 6-8 p.m. Specials include $2 12-ounce domestic beers at all concession stands, Beer Express carts and The Thirsty Acorn, as well as $2 fountain sodas at the Pepsi Fountain (located on the main concourse, first base side. Following the game, children 14 and younger can run the bases presented by Richmond Family Magazine.
For tickets or more information, call 804-359-3866 (FUNN), visit SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets or stop by the Flying Squirrels box office.