The Richmond Flying Squirrels (7-4) won their third straight over the Altoona Curve (3-6), 7-3, in front of 5,789on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. The Squirrels grabbed the series as well, welcoming 33,386 (8,347 avg.) fans to the ballpark during the first home series of the season.
The Squirrels broke on top for the first time in the bottom of the second inning. Brett Krill provided the spark with a two-out single off lefty Joely Rodriguez. Krill then stole second base and came in for a 1-0 lead when Eric Sim lined a single to right field. It marked the first Double-A hit for Sim.
Richmond then broke open the game against Rodriguez in the third. Starting pitcher Kelvin Marte got the Squirrels started with his first professional hit – a single. Skyler Stromsmoe and Matt Duffy followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. jarrett parker made it a 2-0 with an RBI fielder’s choice before Mario Lisson struck out. With two outs, Angel Villalona cracked a ground-rule double to left field to bring in Stromsmoe. Krill capped the inning with a two-run single to make it 5-0 for the Squirrels.
Rodriguez (0-1) departed following the third and absorbed the loss. He was touched up for five earned runs on seven hits. He walked none and struck out three.
Marte was also enjoying success on the hill in his second start of the season. He cruised through the first four innings without allowing the Curve a hit. Mel Rojas didn’t collect the first Altoona hit until he led off the fifth with a single. A batter later, Jarek Cunningham put the Curve on the board with a double to plate Rojas.
Villalona recovered that run quickly for the Squirrels. In the bottom of the fifth inning he sent a solo-home run to left field off lefty Jhonathan Ramos. Villalona’s third of the year made it 6-1.
Marte (1-0) turned in the longest outing of the season for a Squirrels starting pitcher, lasting seven innings. He conceded just the lone run on four hits. He walked two and struck out five to pick up his first Eastern League win.
Altoona plated a pair of runs against left-hander Josh Osich in the top of the eighth inning, but jarrett parker doubled home a run in the bottom of the frame to cap the scoring for the afternoon.
Right-hander Cody Hall came on for the final out of the eighth inning and worked a scoreless ninth to earn the save, his second of the season.
The Squirrels collected 13 hits in the win, and three Squirrels posted multiple-hit games. Krill (3-3, 2 RBI, R, SB), Villalona (3-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R), Sim (2-4, RBI). Duffy also extended his personal hit-streak to 10 games with a single.
The Squirrels opening homestand continues as they welcome the Reading Fightin Phils for the opener of a three-game serieson Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. as Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (0-0, 0.00) will make the start against Reading RHP Severino Gonzalez (1-0, 1.50). Pregame coverage will begin at 6:05 p.m. on SportsRadio910.com.
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