EL1 Altoona Curve

Bolton's Gem Leads Curve over Squirrels in Series Finale

Published on July 28, 2019 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve snapped a season-high-tying, six-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Sunday at Peoples Natural Gas Field behind a gem from Cody Bolton.

Bolton (Win, 1-1) started for the Curve (53-51, 18-19) and gave up one run on three hits and two walks in six innings. Bolton held the Flying Squirrels (39-65, 16-21) scoreless over his last five frames and racked up a Double-A-best eight strikeouts in his first Double-A win on 77 pitches. The only run Bolton allowed came two batters into the game. He walked leadoff man Bryce Johnson on four pitches and after Johnson stole second base, Peter Maris brought him home with a single to right field.

Chris Sharpe hit an RBI single to left in the bottom of the first to tie the game and the Curve took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on Brett Pope's two-out, RBI single to left to score the previous hitter, Jason Delay, from second base. Delay kept the inning alive with a double after Richmond starter Logan Webb (Loss, 1-3) retired the first two batters of the frame. Altoona tacked on an insurance run with two outs in the sixth when Bralin Jackson delivered a pinch-hit, RBI single.

The Curve carried a 3-1 lead into the ninth for closer Matt Eckelman (Save, 19), who recorded his 30th career Double-A save. He joins Montana DeRapau as the only pitchers in Curve history with at least 30 saves. Eckelman bounced back after a blown save last night and after a one-out walk to Zach Houchins, he retired the next two batters to end the game. Joel Cesar, who took over for Bolton in the seventh, retired six of the seven batters he faced. Cesar tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning and worked around a one-out double in the eighth to preserve the Curve's 3-1 lead.

Delay and Jared Oliva each went 2-for-4 in the win. Delay hit two doubles and is batting .407 over his last seven games while Oliva hit two singles and collected his 30th stolen base of the season.

The Curve are off on Monday before starting a six-day road trip on Tuesday. The Curve kick off the road trip in Trenton at 5 p.m. with the completion of a suspended game from May 30, with a seven-inning game to follow. The Curve return to PNG Field on Monday, August 5 to start a seven-game homestand starting at 6:30 p.m. against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

For tickets or more information about upcoming promotions, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.

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Eastern League Stories from July 28, 2019


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