The Altoona Curve (18-17) haunted the Squirrels for four runs in the ninth inning, en route to a 5-3 win on Friday the 13th at The Diamond. The loss stretched the Squirrels losing streak to eight consecutive games and eight straight against Altoona. Pinch hitter Stetson Allie delivered the go-ahead runs with a single to center field in the ninth inning. Richmond (10-24) starting pitcher Chase Johnson hurled a season-high seven innings and departed with a 2-1 lead butreceived a no-decision. Richmond will host game three of the series on Saturday night at 6:05 PM.
Chase Johnson took the ball for Richmond to begin the game in his sixth start of the year. Amazingly four of Johnson’s first four starts have come against the Curve. Altoona was able to manufacture a run in the first inning, courtesy of a leadoff double form Harold Ramirez. Erich Weiss advanced the runner to third base and Austin Meadows plated the run with a sacrifice fly to left field for the 1-0 lead. Friday’s sponsor was Gelati Celesti and owner Steve Rosser brought two pints of ice cream up to the press box in the second inning.
Richmond struggled once again to score against Altoona right-hander Tyler Eppler. Eppler worked around a pair of hits in the second inning and a walk to open the third. Eppler had held theSquirrels to just one run in a win last Saturday, but was touched up for a pair of run in the bottom of the fourth in this outing. Richmond pushed ahead, 2-1 in the fourth when Ryder Jones slammed a double to left field. Hunter Cole then scorched a base hit to left center to bring in Jones and tie the game. Altoona’s defense then faltered, allowing Richmond to go-ahead. Ricky Oropesa connected on a a base hit base past the defensive shift and the ball was misplayed in the outfield by both Harold Ramirez and Austin Meadows to produce a run and give the Squirrels the lead. Eppler was able to recover from the miscue and retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings.
Johnson maneuvered through a season-high seven innings in the no-decision. The Squirrels defense was stout behind the righty for most of the night, highlighted by a pair of outfield assists from Myles Schroder. Schroder cut down a runner at second to end the first and spared a run by hosing Austin Meadows at home in the fourth. Johnson scattered eight hits, struck out one, walked none and allowed the lone run. Eppler also hurled seven innings while allowing just one earned run but departed with Altoona trailing 2-1. Epplerstruck out three, walked two and tossed 86 pitched in the effort.
Richmond turned to Dan Slania to relieve Johnson to open the eighth to keep the lead intact. Slania struck out one and retired all three batters to earn a hold. Ray Black then entered for Richmond with a 2-1 lead in the ninth but could shut the door on a surging Altoona club. Austin Meadows lead off the inning with a double and Reese McGuire tied thegame with an extra base hit to left. Black then struggled to find his control and walked the bases loaded. Tyler Mizenko relieved Black and could not hold back the flood gates as pinch hitter Stetson Allie gave the Curve the lead with a two-run single to center.. Altoona sent nine men to the plate and scored four runs in the ninth to take a 5-2 lead.
Curve Lefty Jared Lakind hurled a scoreless ninth inning to close out the game and earn his second save. Richmond fell to a woeful 3-10 aganst Altoona on the year.
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Chris Graham
