Squirrels rally but fall late to Curve
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels came back from down four runs but lost late to the Altoona Curve, 8-7, on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels came back from down four runs but lost late to the Altoona Curve, 8-7, on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
The Flying Squirrels (63-71, 29-36) outhit the Curve (59-75, 30-35), 14-12, but led a late lead slip away.
With Richmond ahead, 7-6, entering the bottom of the seventh, Altoona recorded three straight two-out hits against Cameron Cotter (Loss, 2-2), including RBI singles by Jase Bowen and Brenden Dixon, to take an 8-7 lead.
Reliever Eddy Yean (Save, 5) took over for Cristofer Melendez (Win, 1-0) with two runners on base in the top of the eighth and worked a double play to escape the jam. In the ninth, Yean stranded a runner at first base to end the game.
The Curve scored four runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Tsung-Che Cheng hit a two-run single, Jase Bowen doubled home a run and Brenden Dixon added a sacrifice fly.
Justin Wishkoski deposits one into the left field corner and the Squirrels are on the board in Toon Town 👍 pic.twitter.com/y7u3ZdooDr
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) September 11, 2024
The Flying Squirrels cut the score to 4-1 with an RBI double by Justin Wishkoski in the second. In the fourth, Vaun Brown brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to pull Richmond within two.
Cheng hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Curve’s lead back to four runs.
Kachel konnects! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/T7tJpEg9Uz
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) September 11, 2024
In the sixth, Andrew Kachel hit a two-run double and Carter Howell added a sacrifice fly to close the score to 6-5.
These. Squirrels. Don't. Quit‼️
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) September 12, 2024
WE'RE TIED 👏 pic.twitter.com/NjwDp01eq1
Jairo Pomares tied the game in the seventh with an RBI double. Three batters later, Wishkoski grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Bryce Eldridge from third to give the Flying Squirrels a 7-6 lead.
Diego Velasquez went 3-for-4 and scored three runs. Zach Morgan reached base four times, singling twice and walking twice.
Victor Bericoto had his seven-game RBI streak snapped, which tied the longest by a Flying Squirrels player in franchise history, matching the record set by Clay Timpner in 2010.
The Flying Squirrels and Curve continue the series on Thursday night in Altoona. Right-hander Dylan Cumming (5-2, 3.68) will start for Richmond opposed by Altoona right-hander Emmanuel Chapman (2-2, 3.75). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
On Thursday, the Flying Squirrels will host the annual Dinner on the Infield at The Diamond with proceeds benefiting Flying Squirrels Charities. Movies in the Outfield continues with a showing of “Happy Gilmore” on Sept. 21 and “Hotel Transylvania” on Oct. 12. Tickets and more information are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.