The Altoona Curve (57-48) completed a three-game series sweep of the Flying Squirrels (53-50) with a 1-0 win on Wednesday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, PA. Squirrels lefty Matt Gage was one-upped by Altoona southpaw Zach Dodson in a well-pitched affair that featured a total of six hits. It was the shortest nine inning game in Squirrels franchise history, breezing to a 1:54 official game time. The Squirrels have lost five consecutive games and return home on Thursday to open a seven game homestand against the B-Mets.
Altoona second baseman Max Moroff sparked the Curve with the only run of the game the seventh inning. Moroff singled and moved to second via a sacrifice bunt. Gage then walked the next batter Jose Osuna and was promptly removed from the game for reliever Jose Casilla. Casilla yielded a base hit to JaCoby Jones to produce the only run of the contest
Despite the loss, Gage (2-1) was phenomenal in his third start of the year with Richmond. The lefty allowed just three hits, one run, two walks and a pair of strikeouts in six and one third innings pitched. Gage needed just 61 pitches through the first six innings but was removed with two runners aboard in the seventh prior to the run scoring. Casilla recorded the final two outs of the seventh and Kyle Crick hurled a scoreless eighth in relief. It was the fourth consecutive scoreless outing for Crick and his third straight without a walk.
Zack Dodson earned the win with seven shutout innings to blank the Squirrels for the second consecutive game. Dodson (5-7) allowed just a pair of hits with two walks and one strikeout in the effort. He needed 88 pitches over the seven frames before handing the ball to the bullpen. Richmond was held to two hits, singles from Ricky Oropesa and Devin Harris. Brett McKinney earned the save by hurling a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
The Squirrels return to Richmond on Thursday to begin a seven game series against the Binghamton Mets. Richmond LHP Adalberto Mejia (5-2, 2.58) will start for the Squirrels against B-Mets RHP Rainy Lara (5-3, 3.57). First pitch is set for 7:05 PM with the Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup starting at 6:35 PM on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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Chris Graham
