Altoona Curve blanks Richmond, 3-0

The Altoona Curve (3-6) altered a scoreless game with three runs in the ninth inning en route to a 3-0 win over Richmond (4-6) on Saturday night at The Diamond.

The Curve loaded the bases off of Squirrels closer Ray Black and Stetson Allie delivered a three-run triple as the difference maker. The late runs for Altoona snapped a 14 inning scoreless streak for the Squirrels bullpen. Both starting pitchers – Joan Gregorio and Cody Dickson – were masterful in no-decision efforts during the contest. The two teams conclude the four game series on Sunday afternoon at 12:05 PM on the Boulevard.

Offense was at a premium to open the contest as both starting pitchers were nearly flawless. Altoona’s Cody Dickson allowed just a pair of hits with three walks over five innings in a no-decision.  Dickson, making his second start of the year, was much improved from his first outing against Akron on Monday. Squirrels leftfielder Hunter Cole cracked the first Richmond hit  with two outs in the fourth. Cole moved to second base after it appeared he was picked off by Dickson, but the Altoona pitcher wascalled for obstruction on the rundown play. Matt Winn then struck out to end the threat.

Fortunately for the Squirrels, Joan Gregorio was just as good as Dickson, also in his second start of the season. Gregorio twirled six sterling innings and added seven strikeouts on 72 pitches in the no-decision. Gregorio has yet to allow a run this year, spanning 10 innings in two starts.

Altoona turned to reliever Frank Duncan upon Dickson’s departure to start the bottom of the sixth.  Duncan, making his Double-A debut, was greeted by Squirrels shortstop Christian Arroyo connecting on a single to right centerfield.  Duncan punched out the next two batters but then hit Hunter Cole with a pitch to put two runners on for the first time in the game. Duncan rebounded and struck out Matt Winn to end the inning and strand a pair. Duncan (1-0) wound up earing the win as his offense pulled through in the final frame.

Gregorio was forced from the game via his pitch limit to open the seventh frame. Jose Casilla entered and pitched a harmless seventh and Tyler Mizenko worked around a pair of base hits in the eighth to preserve the scoreless affair.

Duncan kept on chugging for the Curve and received some solid defensive effort to get out of trouble in the seventh inning. The Squirrelscame up empty in the eighth and brought on closer Ray Black to pitch the ninth. With one out, Black walked three consecutive batters to load the bases for Jonathan Schwind. Schwind struck out and Black picked up two strikes on the next hitter Allie before he grounded a ball inside the first base bag and down the line for a triple.

The Flying Squirrels conclude the four game series with Altoona Sunday, April 17^th at 12:05 PM. LHP Matt Gage (0-1, 31.50) is scheduled to stat against Altoona RHP Dave Whitehead (0-1, 11.25). Season tickets, mini plans, and group packages are currently available by contacting the box office at 804-359-FUNN or online at www.squirrelsbaseball.com.