RICHMOND, Va. - Behind an eight-run second inning Richmond routed the Curve, 10-2, on Tuesday night.
Richmond sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning and the eight runs the Curve allowed are the most their pitching staff has given up in a frame this year. The Curve's offense also couldn't get much done against Richmond starter Michael Kickham, and they lost their fifth straight contest.
Five of the Flying Squirrels' eight third-inning runs came with two outs, and they chased Altoona starter Tim Alderson after just 2 innings.
Richmond used three walks - including an RBI free pass from Ehire Adrianza - as well as six hits to open up the floodgates in the third inning. Just one of the five hits went for extra bases, but it was a big one as Daniel Mayora delivered a two-out double off of reliever Nathan Baker with the bases loaded, which brought home three runs and put Richmond up, 9-0.
The final line on Alderson was not pretty. The 6-foot-6 right hander threw 82 pitches but didn't get out of the third inning and was charged with eight runs on seven hits and four walks. The eight runs are the most Alderson (4-4) has allowed in an outing this season, and he saw his ERA rise from 3.58 to 4.40.
Meanwhile, Kickham seemed to be in a groove for Richmond, and Alderson was actually the only base runner the Curve had in the first three innings.
The Curve eventually got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Quincy Latimore hit an RBI double, and Kickham then gave up a solo home run to Jeremy Farrell in the seventh inning. Robbie Grossman went 2-for-4 and had the only multi-hit night of any Curve player.
Michael Kickham (8-7) ended up throwing seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits, while striking out five.
The Curve continued to have problems at the plate during their losing streak. During their last five games, the Curve are averaging 1.8 runs per contest.
Game recap
Key player: Richmond 3B Daniel Mayora was 4-for-4 with three RBIs.
Key play: Mayora's bases-loaded double in the third inning cleared the bases and put Richmond up 9-0.
Key stat: The eight runs the Curve surrendered in the third inning are the most they've allowed in a single inning this season. Their previous high was six, which happened on June 13 against Trenton.
How they scored
Bottom 1st: Brown walked, scored on Joseph groundout (0-1).
Bottom 3rd: Adrianza walked, scored on Minicozzi single (0-2); Mayora singled, scored on Perez single (0-3); Liles groundout scored Minicozzi (0-4); Kickham singled scored Perez (0-5); Cavan walked, scored on Adrianza walk (0-6); Brown singled, scored along with Kickham and Adrianza on Mayora double (0-9).
Top 4th: Holt singled, scored on Latimore double (1-9).
Bottom 5th: Brown solo homer (1-10).
Top 6th: Farrell solo homer (2-10).
