The Richmond Flying Squirrels failed to score a run in Saturday’s doubleheader against the Altoona Curve, falling, 2-0, in Game One and losing, 1-0, in Game Two at The Diamond in front of 7,164 fans in attendance.
Altoona (8-8), which entered the day on a six-game losing streak, held the Richmond (7-7) offense to one hit in each game.
GAME ONE
Brock Stassi lined a double down the left field line against Altoona (8-8) right-hander James Marvel (Win, 2-1) in the second inning of Game One for the Flying Squirrels only hit of the ballgame.
Marvel went the distance, recording a seven-inning, complete-game shutout while striking out two and walking one.
The Curve scored both of their runs in in the fifth inning against left-hander Garrett Williams (Loss, 0-1). After Hunter Owen led off the frame with a single, Williams walked back-to-back batters to load the bases with nobody out. Right-hander Ryan Halstead entered to try and escape the jam, but a fielder’s choice groundout followed by an error at third by Jonah Arenado allowed the two decisive runs to score.
The Flying Squirrels played Game One as las Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond as part of Minor League Baseball’s “Copa de la Diversión” initiative, designed to engage with and embrace local Latinx/Hispanic communities across Minor League Baseball.
GAME TWO
Right-hander Yoanys Quiala started in Game Two for the Flying Squirrels, tossing five shutout innings. He needed just 53 pitches to navigate through the five frames, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking none in his first start of the season.
However, Curve righty Pedro Vasquez retired the first 14 batters he faced, taking a perfect game into the fifth inning before Arenado lined a single up the middle with two outs for Richmond’s only hit.
Right-hander Sam Wolff and right-hander Melvin Adon (Loss, 0-2) kept Altoona off the board in regulation, sending the game to extra innings.
In the eighth, Adon retired the first two batters he faced, but threw a wild pitch that allowed the placed runner Mitchell Tolman to advance to third. With two outs, Jared Oliva singled into centerfield to plate the game’s only run.
Right-hander Beau Sulser (Win, 2-0) and right-hander Matt Eckelman (Save, 3) threw back-to-back clean innings in the seventh and eighth to keep Richmond off the scoreboard and secure the win.
With the loss, the Flying Squirrels dropped their second consecutive series.
Richmond’s homestand continues on Monday following an off day on Sunday with the first game of a three-game series against the Reading Fightin Phils. Right-hander Alfred Gutierrez (0-1, 7.94 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Flying Squirrels opposite Fightin Phils right-hander Adonis Medina (0-0, 3.60 ERA). First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m., and radio coverage begins on Sports Radio 910 the Fan with the Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup presented by Air Force Reserve at 6:05 p.m.
As part of the 10 memorable past players series, the first 1,000 fans 15 and older to arrive at The Diamond on Monday will receive a unique hat complete with hair celebrating former Flying Squirrels shortstop and three-time Gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Additionally, dogs are admitted free in Funnville every Monday home game. Please request a dog-friendly seating section if accompanied by a pet (Sections 101-103, 203-204 and General Admission first base side.
For tickets or more information, call 804-359-3866 (FUNN), visit SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets or stop by the Flying Squirrels box office.
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Chris Graham
