Five-Run Eighth Downs Curve on Monday
Published on April 22, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
RICHMOND, Va. - A five-run eighth inning sunk the Curve on Monday night during a, 10-6, loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond. Richmond sent 10 men to the plate in the inning and scored three of the five runs on walks or hit batters.
The Curve led the game, 6-5, entering the bottom of the eighth thanks to a Mel Rojas, Jr. solo home run in the sixth inning off Fabio Castillo. Nate Baker (0-1) began the eighth inning by inducing a groundout of Mark Minicozzi before walking Jarrett Parker and Andrew Susac to put the tying and winning runs on. He recovered to retire Ryan Lollis for the inning's second out before being removed from the ballgame in favor of Kenn Kasparek.
Kasparek was brought in to face the right handed pinch hitter Travious Relaford with two down and nearly escaped the jam. Relaford bounced a ball to the right of the mound just out of the reach of Kasparek and it loaded up the bases with two down. Kasparek then walked Ehire Adrianza to walk in the tying run and walked Joe Panik to walk in the go-ahead run. Down, 7-6, a ball grazed the jersey of Javier Herrera to bring in yet another run. Ricky Oropesa capped the scoring in the inning with a two-run single and when the dust settled, it was 10-6 Richmond.
Altoona starter Jameson Taillon struggled in his fourth start of the year, allowing a season-high five runs on seven hits in six innings. He battled through six innings but still left in line for a win before the five-run Richmond eighth.
Andrew Lambo had an RBI single in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to eight games and his consecutive games on-base streak to 18 games. Matt Curry had a pair of hits with a pair of RBI in the loss as well. Drew Maggi, Rojas, Jr., and Carlos Paulino all had multi-hit games on Monday night.
Looking to even up the series and the road trip, Altoona (8-10) sends RHP Charlie Morton to the mound on a Major League rehab assignment in the 6:35 p.m. tilt with the Squirrels (9-10). Morton is on his road back to Pittsburgh after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. Richmond counters with RHP Justin Fitzgerald (1-0, 1.93), who is making his fourth start of the year.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. For tickets and more information on the upcoming Curve homestand that begins with back-to-back fireworks shows on Friday, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Eastern League Stories from April 22, 2013
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