EL1 Altoona Curve

Early Onslaught Lifts Curve over Squirrels, 8-5

Published on July 31, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, PA - A barrage of early runs was enough for the Curve on Thursday night as they defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 8-5. Willy Garcia homered and extended his season-best hit streak to 11 games in the win while Josh Bell led the team with three hits that extended his hitting streak to six games.

The offense gave starter Zack Dodson (4-7) two runs to work with after he blanked the Squirrels in the top of the first. Alen Hanson led off the game for the Curve with a triple and Drew Maggi followed with a single. Just like that, the Curve led, 1-0.

Bell later reached on an error in the inning and Stetson Allie grounded out to bring home Maggi to make it, 2-0. Elias Diaz roped a double off Squirrels starter Kyle Crick (6-6) to bring Bell in for the third run of the inning.

Altoona added four more in the second starting with a solo homer by Willy Garcia to open the inning. Crick walked his mound opponent (and fellow Texan) Dodson and that was the last batter Crick faced as he left due to an injury.

The Curve did the rest of their damage off reliever Jose Casilla with a two-run double by Allie and a RBI groundout by Diaz.

Up 7-0, Dodson cruised through the third and fourth innings and entered the fifth without allowing a hit. The inning got away from the Curve defensively as they committed a pair of errors behind Dodson that prolonged the inning and allowed Richmond to score three runs (two earned).

More of the same occurred in the sixth as another pair of errors aided the Squirrels offensive efforts as they scored twice with just one being charged to Dodson. Matt Benedict was called upon to get the final out of the inning with Dodson coming out after 5.2 innings. In the win, Dodson allowed five runs (two earned) on just four hits while walking and striking out two.

Neither team was able to break the scoreboard again until the eighth when Bell hit a one-out single that scored Maggi from second to pad the Curve lead.

Jeff Inman, who'd come in to pitch the eighth, saved it in the ninth for his first save of the season. He did not allow a hit and struck out two.

Winners of 10 of their last 15 games, the Curve (47-66) aim to keep it going in the second game of the series at 7 p.m. Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. A postgame fireworks show will follow the game on Friday on what is also Agriculture Night. Matt Pletcher will entertain the fans early with a pregame concert on the Rocky Gap Casino Resort Entertainment Deck that starts when gates open at 5 p.m. After the game, kids can run the bases.

On the hill for the Curve will be RHP Pat Ludwig (2-4, 6.09), who looks for his third Double-A win. He'll be opposed by Eastern League All-Star Ty Blach (7-5, 3.11) on Friday night.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central