Late Curve runs drop Squirrels in 6-4 loss
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels allowed three unanswered runs late in a 6-4 loss to the Altoona Curve Tuesday night at The Diamond.
RICHMOND, Va. β The Richmond Flying Squirrels allowed three unanswered runs late in a 6-4 loss to the Altoona Curve Tuesday night at The Diamond.
The Flying Squirrels (22-29) scored two of their four total runs with two outs but struck out 12 times against the Curve (28-22).
The Flying Squirrels propelled to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Altoona starter Kyle Nicolas. After a leadoff walk to Vaun Brown, Marco Luciano blasted an RBI double to score Brown from first base. Andy Thomas plated Luciano later in the inning off a sacrifice fly and gave Richmond a two-run advantage.
Marco Luciano gets us started πͺ pic.twitter.com/hvRzUjoDAQ
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 6, 2023
With two outs and a runner at second base in the third inning, Hayden Cantrelle lined an RBI single to push the Flying Squirrels to a 3-0 lead.
Hayden Cantrelle drives in Andy Thomas and weβre up 3-0 in the third pic.twitter.com/MmDGG9rbvv
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 6, 2023
Altoona struck back with a three-run top of the sixth inning to even the score, 3-3. After back-to-back singles to start the inning, Matt Gorski drove in a pair with a triple to cut the deficit to one run. Gorski later scored off a double play to tie the game.
After a leadoff walk to Carter Williams and a single by Brett Auerbach in the seventh, Curve reliever Cameron Junker posted two outs to hold runners at first and second. Thomas punched a single to left field to score Williams from second base and jumped the Flying Squirrels to a 4-3 lead. Thomas notched one hit, a stolen base, one run and two RBIs in the game.
Andy Thomas puts us back in front π pic.twitter.com/cyp1RHu44x
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 7, 2023
Gorski hit a one-out double in the top of the eighth and tied the game, 4-4, off a pair of Richmond throwing errors.
With two outs and a runner at second in the top of the ninth, Dylan Shockley drove an RBI single to right field, giving the Curve a one-run lead. Liover Peguero brought home Shockley off an RBI double against Evan Gates (Loss, 1-5) and pushed Altoona to a 6-4 lead.
Oliver Garcia (Save, 3) set down the Flying Squirrels in order in the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout, lineout and a popout.
The Curve used four relivers and combined for one run. Travis MacGregor worked three hitless innings with five strikeouts and Tyler Samaniego (Win, 2-1) worked a pair of punchouts in a scoreless eighth inning.
Richmond starter Landen Roupp worked a season-high four innings and held the Curve scoreless, allowing one hit and two walks with three strikeouts.
Four scoreless innings tonight for @roupp5 pic.twitter.com/hd5x30hTgp
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 6, 2023
The Flying Squirrels will take on the Curve on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Left-handed pitcher Carson Whisenhunt will be making his Double-A debut. Altoona has yet to announce its starting pitcher.
On Wednesday, the first 1,000 fans ages 21 and older can receive a custom Nutzy Wine Topper to keep any bottle of wine fresh presented by New Kent Winery. It is also Wine and K-9s where fans can enjoy five-dollar glasses of wine and six-dollar wine slushies from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Plus, dogs are admitted free to every Wednesday home game at The Diamond.
Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.