Curve swerves Squirrels in series opener

Richmond missed a chance to claim sole possession of second place in the Western Division with a 3-2 loss at Altoona on Monday night. The Curve (55-48) pushed across a pair of late runs to squeak by the Squirrels (53-48) and take the opener of a three game series. Squirrels reliever Phil McCormick took the loss despite stranding a pair of inherited runners in the seventh inning to keep the game tied at 2-2. Richmond is 2-3 on the current road trip and 8-4 against Altoona this year.

Tied 2-2 in the eighth inning, Altoona plated the go-ahead run off McCormick. With two outs in the eighth, Jose Osuna and Dan Gamache singled to force McCormick from the game. Tyler Mizenko entered and yielded the run via a base hit to center by Jacob Stallings to score Osuna. McCormick (3-2) took the loss by allowing two hits and a run over an inning and a third. Curve reliever Jhondaniel Medina (3-3) earned the win by hurling the final two innings for Altoona.

Altoona struck first with a run in the fourth inning against Squirrels starting pitcher Yoan Gregorio. With two outs, the Curve gathered three consecutive base hits for a 1-0 lead. Altoona Shortstop JaCoby Jones brought home the run with his first hit at the Double-A level. Edwin Quirarte entered to relieve Gregorio and stranded the bases loaded to maintain a one run deficit.

Quirarte pitched into the seventh inning and allowed four hits through two and two third innings. After the Squirrels took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, Altoona quickly tied the game on three consecutive base knocks to chase Quirarte from the game. Phil McCormick then entered and was able to keep the contest tied as he replaced Quirarte with two runners on base. McCormick induced a pop up and ground out to work out of the difficult situation.

The Squirrels took a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning with a pair of runs off reliever Matt Benedict. Hunter Cole singled and Mitch Delfino doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Ricky Oropesa brought home Cole with a ground out to short to tie the game, 1-1 and Myles Schroder promptly gave the Squirrels the lead by ringing a triple out left field.

Cole’s double extended his hitting streak to nine games. Engel Beltre had his 17 game hitting streak snapped one shy of tying the franchise record. Joan Gregorio lasted three and two third innings in his third start of the year. He allowed one run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts on 62 pitches.

The Squirrels continue a three game series in Altoona on Tuesday evening against the Curve. Richmond LHP Kelvin Marte (8-2, 2.14) will start for the Squirrels against Curve LHP Steven Brault (3-3, 3.79)). First pitch is set for 7:00PM with the Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup starting at 6:30PM on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.