The Altoona Curve (64-57) took advantage of three Richmond (60-60) miscues in the sixth inning and managed to hold on late for a 4-3 win over in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. Kelvin Marte was tabbed with the loss despite allowing just one earned run over six innings of work. The Squirrels and Curve split the season series, 10-10.
The Squirrels gave Marte a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a pair of run-producing hits from Engel Beltre and Rando Moreno. Myles Schroder led off the inning with a single and was bunted into scoring position by Marte. Beltre singled Schroder in and then scored on a double to right from Moreno.
Altoona made it a 2-1 contest with a run in the fourth inning. Max Moroff singled to being the inning and advanced to second on a ground ball top third baseman Mitch Delfino. Moroff slid into second and reached safely as the second baseman Austin Slater was ruled to not have control of the ball. Jacob Stalling brought home Moroff with bloop single to right centerfield.
Marte was tagged with the loss in his 16th start of the season. Marte allowed four runs (one earned) over six innings of work. HE walked two and struck out two on 107 pitches. Stephen Johnson relieved Marte and retired all six batters he faced.
Kyle Crick needed just 12 pitches to set down the side in order in the ninth. Johndaniel Medina was able to lock up the ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the season. Jason Creasy (9-7) earned the win and allowed two runs over seven innings of work
The Curve snagged a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning on a pair of walks and three errors committed by the Squirrels. Marte walked the first two batters of the inning and tossed away a sacrifice bunt attempt trying to pin the lead runner at third to tie the game 2-2. Jacob Stallings then delivered a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give Altoona their first lead of the day. With a runner on third Jackson Williams attempted a pickoff throw and missed his target to plate the third run of the inning.
The Squirrels pulled back to within a run, 4-3, in the eighth inning off setup man John Kuchno. Beltre walked with one out, advanced to second on a ground out and scored on a base hit from Austin Slater. Slater extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games. Kuchno pitched one inning and allowed the one run on one hit with a walks.
The Squirrels are off on Monday and begin a seven game road trip in Binghamton on Tuesday night. LHP Matt Gage (2-2, 3.18) will start for the Squirrels against Mets RHP Seth Lugo (6-5, 3.80). First pitch is set for 6:35 PM with the Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup starting at 6:05 PM on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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