RICHMOND, Va. – The Altoona Curve dropped their first road game of the season, 2-1, behind a go-ahead, two-out hit for Richmond in the bottom of the eighth inning on Thursday night at The Diamond.
The Curve (2-5) were held to just four hits and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Flying Squirrels (3-5) sat down the final 12 Curve batters in order to finish the game.
With the game tied 1-1 in the eighth, Richmond jumped ahead with a two-out, RBI single by Hunter Cole against Curve reliever Josh Smith (Loss, 0-1).
After back-to-back singles to open the inning, Smith struck out Austin Slater and Ricky Oropesa, but Cole hit the first pitch he saw to plate the go-ahead run.
The Curve took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double by Harold Ramirez that scored Chris Diaz.
Richmond evened the score in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, RBI double by Myles Schroder.
Altoona starting pitcher Clay Holmes pitched six innings in his second Double-A start and allowed one run on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
Smith pitched two innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts. The run against Smith ended his 20.2 scoreless-inning streak, dating back to July 20, 2015.
Richmond starter Adelberto Mejia allowed one earned run on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Dan Slania (Win, 2-0) worked a scoreless eighth inning for the Flying Squirrels.
The Curve and Flying Squirrels face off in the second of the four-game series on Friday night at The Diamond. Right-hander Tyler Eppler (1-0, 3.00) will be on the mound for Altoona, opposed by Richmond righty Chase Johnson (0-1, 6.75). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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