RICHMOND, Va. – The Altoona Curve topped the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 3-2, in 10 innings on Wednesday morning at The Diamond to cap a three-game sweep and pick up their fourth straight win overall.
(Photo courtesy of Altoona Curve)
With the win, the Curve (13-10) moved into a first-place tie with the Flying Squirrels (14-11).
Stephen Alemais was placed on second to begin the top of the tenth inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Richmond reliver Caleb Simpson (Loss, 1-1). After Ke’Bryan Hayes was hit by a pitch, Jason Martin drove a go-ahead single to give the Curve a 3-2 lead.
Simpson stranded two runners on base to keep the Flying Squirrels within a run.
In the bottom of the inning, Luigi Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop to move placed base runner Ali Castillo to third with one out, but Geoff Hartlieb (Win, 4-0) worked groundouts from Ronnie Jebavy and Ryan Howard to strand the tying run on base.
Curve starting pitcher Brandon Waddell matched a career high with seven innings pitched, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Waddell has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of his last 12 starts dating back to July 31, 2017, and he lowered his season ERA to 1.74.
The Curve took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Will Craig reached on an infield single and Hayes scored on a throwing error by Howard.
Richmond tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Dylan Davis.
In the top of the fifth, Waddell worked a lead-off walk and moved to third on a double by Hayes. Martin followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Curve a 2-1 lead.
Tate Scioneaux replaced Waddell in the eighth and worked a 1-2-3 inning.
Richmond rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth against Hartlieb. David doubled with one out and scored on a two-out single by Ronnie Freeman to force extras.
Martin went 3-for-4 in the game with a double and two RBIs. Jackson Williams went 2-for-4.
Richmond starting pitcher Garrett Williams worked six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Reliever Ray Black pitched two perfect innings with five strikeouts.
Altoona wiped out a three-game lead for Richmond in the Western Division standings with the three wins at The Diamond. It was the third all-time series sweep for the Curve in Richmond.
The Curve return home to begin a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves on Thursday night. Right-hander Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.78) will start on the mound for Altoona, opposed by Erie right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (0-2, 4.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at PNG Field.
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