Curve completes sweep of Richmond

Jose Osuna and Stetson Allie connected on back-to-back homers to help Altoona (14-16) complete a three game sweep over Richmond on Sunday afternoon. Richmond (10-19) was limited to two runs on nine hits and fell to 3-8 against Altoona on the year. Squirrels starting pitcher Matt Gage worked 5 1/3 innings in the loss. Richmond returns home on Monday to begin a seven game homestand against theHarrisburg Senators. Click here for a full promotional schedule.

Altoona turned to Frank Duncan (3-1) in a spot start to pitch the final game of the series. Duncan was crisp early in the outing and struck out a pair to end the firstinning. Duncan was aided by a double play to face the minimum in the secondinning and then retired the side in the third frame. The right-hander utilized just 33 pitched through the first three innings.

Squirrels lefty Matt Gage took the ball for Richmond and was effective through the first two innings. Gage worked around a walk and single in the first and a base hit in the second. Altoona broke through in the third with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Harold Ramirez and Jose Osunaboth singled and moved second and third base on a fly out to deep center. With two outs, catcher Reese McGuire delivered a single to right field to plate both runners.

The Squirrels cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run off Duncan in the top of the sixth inning. Austin Slater opened the frame with a double and scored on an RBI groundout to second provided by Hunter Cole.Tyler Horan followed with a double to end the outing for Duncan. Horan had three hits in the defeat for the Squirrels. Altoona then brought on Jared Lakind to end the inning and preserve the lead. Duncan earned the win by allowing five hits and just one run in the victory. He walked one and struck out two in his first start of the year.

The Curve responded in the bottom of the sixth with a run to chase Gage from the game. Gage was saddled with the loss and hurled 5 1/3 innings in his fifth start of the year.

Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Richmond pulled back to within one off reliever Brett McKinney. Ali Castillo opened up the inning with a base hit and took second on a wild pitch. Rando Moreno then blooped a base hit to left filed, scoring Castillo to make it a 3-2 contest.The Squirrels brought in Dan Slania in the seventh to keep it a one run contest but Altoona added a pair of runs. With two outs, Jose Osuna and Stetson Allie cranked back-to-back homers over the left field wall to pull ahead. The Curve added a run for god measure in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Mike Kickham to take a 6-2 lead. Dovydas Neverauskas pitched a scoreless ninth for the Curve to finish the game.

The Squirrels will return home on Monday, May 9th with Bark in the Park at 6:35 PM. Richmond RHP Tyler Beede (2-1, 4.15) is scheduled to fce Harrisburg RHP Lucas Giolito (0-2, 5.30) 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.