EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Send Squirrels Flying Home After Sweep

Published on August 3, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


Curve, Pa. - The Altoona Curve swept the four-game series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels with a 6-3 win on Sunday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. With the win, the Curve finished the homestand with a 6-1 record and have won 13 games since the All-Star Break.

Altoona fell behind early in the game but took the lead in the home half of the first. After Skyler Stromsmoe scored on an error, Curve starter Angel Sanchez worked out of a jam and stranded a pair of men on base. In Altoona's first up at the plate, Alen Hanson led off the inning with a triple. Gift Ngoepe then drew a walk after the Hanson triple which placed runners on the corners. Dan Gamache lifted a ball to left which scored Hanson and Ngoepe tallied the final run in the frame on a single by Andy Vasquez.

Richmond tied the game in the third inning. With two outs, Mario Lisson tallied his 13th home run of the season to left center.

Neither team was very active offensively in the middle of the game but the Curve broke the 2-2 tie in the seventh. Keon Broxton led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a single by Carlos Paulino. Pinch hitter Kelson Brown entered the game and grounded into a double play, which brought home Broxton and gave Altoona a 3-2 lead. After Hanson drew a four-pitch walk, he advanced to second on a balk, and scored when Ngoepe laced a double to right.

The Flying Squirrels remained pesky when they loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. However, Jeff Inman worked out of the jam by inducing a sacrifice fly and a groundout to keep the Curve lead intact.

The Curve added two insurance runs in the eighth inning. After Stetson Allie reached on a single, he advanced to second on a sac bunt by Vasquez. After Broxton was intentionally walked, Paulino smacked a single which scored both Allie and Broxton.

Jhonathan Ramos (3-5) earned the win after he slung two shutout innings in relief. Edwin Quirarte (9-5) took the loss after he surrendered the two runs in the seventh. Kenn Kasparek remained perfect in save situations after he worked a scoreless ninth to earn his tenth save of the year. Sanchez tossed five innings in his Curve debut and allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Willy Garcia went 0-for-4 at the dish, ending his hit streak at 13 games, matching his career high.

The Curve finished the homestand with a 6-1 record, and begin a six-game road trip on Tuesday. Altoona will open up the road trip with a three-game series in Trenton and wrap up the trip with a three-game set in Reading. LHP Tom Harlan (2-1, 2.60) will take the hill for Altoona to open up the road trip in Trenton and he will be opposed by RHP Jaron Long (4-0, 2.73). First pitch on Tuesday is at 7:05 p.m. while pregame on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM, and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

The Curve will return home on Tuesday, August 12 for a series against the Trenton Thunder. Opening up the homestand will be postgame fireworks presented by Hometown Markets of Bellwood, Hollidaysburg, and Philipsburg. Other highlights of the homestand include UPMC Health Plan Member Appreciation Night on Wednesday and an appearance by Holly Hatcher-Frazier from Dance Moms thanks to Cianna's Dance on Thursday.

For tickets and information about the upcoming homestand, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com, or stop by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

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Eastern League Stories from August 3, 2014


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