Squirrels Launch Three Homers; Drop Middle Game In Altoona
Altoona, PA - The Altoona Curve (8-6) socked 14 hits and dodged a late surge from the Flying Squirrels (11-5) in a 7-6 win over Richmond on Saturday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Flying Squirrels utilized three home runs, including a three-run blast from Jerry Sands to pull
Altoona, PA - The Altoona Curve (8-6) socked 14 hits and dodged a late surge from the Flying Squirrels (11-5) in a 7-6 win over Richmond on Saturday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Flying Squirrels utilized three home runs, including a three-run blast from
Altoona, PA - The Altoona Curve (8-6) socked 14 hits and dodged a late surge from the Flying Squirrels (11-5) in a 7-6 win over Richmond on Saturday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Flying Squirrels utilized three home runs, including a three-run blast from
Trailing 7-3 in the eighth inning, Sands slammed his three-run homer over the centerfield wall to pull to within a run, 7-6. Sands connected off reliever
For the second consecutive game, the Richmond bullpen was forced into extensive duty due to an abbreviated outing by the starting pitcher. The Squirrels 'pen cobbled together the bulk of the contest and managed to keep the game within reach.
The Curve offense managed to have runners on base in every inning in the contest.
At the start, Altoona pushed across a pair of runs in the first due to Richmond RHP
The Squirrels briefly tied the game in the top of the second inning against Pirates top prospect
Taylor continued to struggle in the second inning and failed to make it out of the frame. With two outs and Mitch Keller at first, Jason Martin drilled a two-run home run over the right field wall to give Altoona a 4-2 lead.
Following the Lipka home run, Keller carried on to retire eight consecutive batters and kept Richmond off the board. Keller tossed seven innings and held Richmond to just three runs (two home runs). Keller stuck out seven and walked three on 94 pitches. Keller (2-0) earned the win in his third start of the year.
The Squirrels utilized a pair of late-inning home runs to keep things close. Dillon Dobson lined an opposite field homer off of Keller to start the seventh and Jerry Sands launched a three-run bomb to pull the Squirrels to within a run, 7-6.
Taylor (2-1) worked 1.2IP in the effort. He allowed four runs on five hits while using 59 pitches. He walked two and struck out one in the defeat.
RVA Acorns:
Cory Taylor made his fourth start of the season and second career start vs. Altoona
Pirates No.1 prospect Mitch Keller made his first career start vs. Richmond
Lipka's home run in the second was the first allowed by Mitch Keller this year/
The 1.2 IP from Taylor marks the shortest outing of the year for a Squirrels starter
The bullpen has worked 13 innings in the first two games of the series.
Ronnie Jebvay drew a pair of walks and now leads the league with 12.
The Flying Squirrels allowed a season-high 14 hits in the loss
Richmond hit three home runs in a game for the 1st time this year.
Dillon Dobson smacked his first Double-A homer in the seventh.
The Flying Squirrels continue their six-game road trip on Sunday in the series finale' at 2 p.m. RHP