Curve Walk off with 11-Inning Win in Finale, 5-4
Published on May 31, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Altoona (Curve), PA - Robbie Grossman delivered the Altoona Curve (24-28) a, 5-4, 11-inning win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels (25-29) in front of 2,795 at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday night.
With the bases loaded, and the ballgame tied, 4-4, Grossman singled into right-center field off of Richmond right-hander Austin Fleet. The game-winner brought home Miles Durham, who had singled to start the inning. Fleet (0-2) absorbed the loss for the Squirrels.
Altoona right-hander Mike Colla earned the win for the Curve after working a scoreless top of the 11th inning. That half-inning was not without its own drama, as Richmond manager Dave Machemer was ejected for arguing whether or not Wendell Fairley had been thrown out at home plate.
The Curve jumped on top in a hurry against Richmond right-hander Andy Reichard in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs in the inning, Jarek Cunningham doubled off the warning-track in left-center field. On the next pitch, Tony Sanchez singled through the left-side of the infield for a 1-0 lead.
Richmond answered in the second with their first run off of right-hander Tim Alderson. Johnny Monel led off with a single to center field. A batter later, Wendell Fairley also single to put two aboard. Reichard bunted the runners up to second and third, and a wild-pitch from Alderson allowed Monell to score to tie the game, 1-1.
Charlie Cutler put the Curve back in front in the bottom of the second. Cutler got a 3-1 fastball from Reichard and sent his first home run of the season to right field. The solo-shot gave Altoona the lead back, 2-1.
The Squirrels again drew even in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Tommy Joseph delivered his second single of the ballgame. Juan Perez followed and sent a one-hop shot to first base. Jeremy Farrell whiffed on the baseball, and it rolled all the way into the right-field corner. Joseph scored from first to tie the game again, 2-2.
Altoona fired the next shot with a two-out rally in the fourth. Miles Durham singled, and Reichard walked Cutler. Kelson Brown gave Altoona the lead back with an RBI single. Once again the Squirrels had a response in, this time in the top of the fifth. Gary Brown laced his first Double-A home run, a low-flying solo-shot to left field to tie the game again, 3-3.
The Curve forged back ahead and chased Reichard in the fifth inning. The trouble again started with two outs. Cunningham singled before Sanchez rifled a double to right field. Cunningham came around for a 4-3 lead. Right-hander Daryl Maday finished the inning for Reichard.
Reichard did not factor in the decision for the Squirrels over 4 2/3 innings. He conceded four earned runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out one.
Alderson turned in a quality-start, but also didn't register a decision. He worked six innings, and was charged with three runs - two earned - on six hits. He walked two and struck out five.
Daniel Mayora sparked the Squirrels in the eighth as they pulled even again, 4-4. He singled off of left-hander Jhonathan Ramos with one out into right field. Joseph followed and drilled a double into the right-field corner to put runners at second and third with one out. Monell lofted a sacrifice-fly to center field to even the ballgame, with Mayora tagging and scoring from third base.
The Richmond bullpen was outstanding prior to the 11th inning, as Maday worked a perfect inning-and-a-third. Lefty Tom Vessella retired all 11 batters he faced, including six strikeouts, before handing it off to Fleet in the 10th.
The Squirrels return to Richmond, VA, to open a three-game series with the Erie SeaWolves on Friday night at The Diamond. The series will open at 6:35 PM with Richmond RHP Chris Heston (5-2, 0.70) making the start against Erie LHP Jared Wesson (4-2, 5.56). Pregame coverage will begin at 6:05 PM on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.
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