EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Finish Forgettable July With 4-2 Loss To Squirrels

Published on July 31, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


RICHMOND, Va - The Altoona Curve capped off a forgettable month of July with a 10-18 record by dropping their third straight game in a 4-2 loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA - San Francisco) on Saturday night at The Diamond.

The 18 losses in a single month is the most since Altoona finished the month of May during the 2009 season 9-20.

Altoona (60-46) would take an early lead in the top of the first inning. Chase d'Arnaud led off the game with a solo homer to put the Curve up 1-0. It was the first Curve player to do so since Jim Negrych belted a first inning, leadoff homer on July 1, 2009 at Reading.

The Curve would tack on another run to take a 2-0 lead against Squirrels starter David Mixon in the top of the fourth when Jose de los Santos brought home Hector Gimenez with a sacrifice fly to left field.

After Curve starter Jeff Locke tossed three hitless innings to start the game, Richmond (52-55) would tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Locke allowed three straight singles by Squirrels hitters to start the inning with the third scoring Richmond's first run. A fielder's choice off the bat of the Squirrel's Ryan Lormand brought home the tying run.

Locke pitched well for the fourth straight time in Double-A allowing just the pair of runs on six hits over six solid innings. The lefty struck out five batters and walked two.

The game would be deadlocked at 2-2 until Brandon Belt ripped an RBI triple off of reliever Dustin Molleken in the bottom of the eighth to give Richmond a 3-2 lead. An insurance run came across the very next batter when Conor Gillaspie drove a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Belt to put the Squirrels ahead 4-2.

In the ninth, pinch-hitter Curve Anthony Norman drew a two-out walk and d'Arnaud, representing the tying run, came to the plate but struck out looking against righty Rafael Cova who notched his league-best 18th save of the season to end the game.

The Curve will try to salvage the final game of the four game series on Sunday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. when they give the ball to right-hander Bryan Morris (4-4, 4.41). Morris will be opposed by Richmond lefty Clayton Tanner (7-6, 3.14). Airtime on flagship station ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Altoona Curve Radio Network is 4:35 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2010


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