RICHMOND, Va. - The Curve had to battle through the elements, but they snapped their five-game losing streak Wednesday night in Richmond.
With three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, the Curve's offense had its best game since the All-Star break and they beat Richmond, 8-3, in a rain-shortened contest at The Diamond.
The game was called after 6 innings when it was in its second rain delay. The first delay of the contest occurred in the top of the sixth inning and lasted a little more than an hour.
It was the Curve's first win since last Thursday, and Kyle McPherson's first victory since June 16, as he snapped a personal four-game losing streak.
McPherson, the Pirates 2011 minor league pitcher of the year, pitched until the game's first rain delay. He struck out eight and allowed three runs on five hits in five innings. McPherson (2-4) also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Outfielders Oscar Tejeda and Quincy Latimore evenly split four RBIs. Tejeda did so with a two-run double, while Latimore had a solo homer in addition to an RBI groundout.
Fact Box
Next stop
Tonight: Erie at Altoona, 7 p.m.
Pitchers: Curve RHP Gerrit Cole (2-2, 5.17) vs. SeaWolves RHP James Avery (9-7, 4.25)
Record: 45-50
Covering the bases
LEADING OFF: The Curve return home tonight to face Erie after seven games on the road. RHP Gerrit Cole will be on the mound for the Curve and so far in four Double-A appearances, Cole is 2-2 with a 5.17 ERA.
SAFE AT FIRST: In his last outing, Cole took a loss in Akron. In 42/3 innings, Cole allowed three runs and six hits, he also struck out three and allowed his first Double-A home run.
STEALING SECOND: This will be Cole's fifth start for the Curve, but just his second at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The No. 1 overall pick in last year's MLB draft made his Curve debut at home against New Britain on June 20, and he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings while striking out six in a winning effort.
ROUNDING THIRD: OF Quincy Latimore hit a solo homer in the sixth inning. It was his first since July 6, and he leads all Curve players with 11 homers this season.
HEADING HOME: Tonight's contest at Peoples Natural Gas Field will be the first time the Curve play at home since July 9. In their last home game, the Curve downed Binghamton, 3-2, behind a walk-off single from SS Brock Holt.
- Stephen Pianovich
The eight runs the Curve scored in seven innings is just one shy of the total number of runs they scored during their five-game losing streak. Their offense averaged 1.8 runs per game during the skid.
Though he struck out seven batters in five innings, Richmond starter Justin Fitzgerald took the loss. Fitzgerald (5-7) gave up five runs - four earned - on six hits and also issued two walks.
Game recap
Key player: 2B Drew Maggi was 2-for-3 and scored twice for the Curve.
Key play: OF Oscar Tejeda's two-run double with two outs in the fifth inning put the Curve up 4-1.
Key stat: The Curve scored nine total runs during their five-game losing streak. They scored eight runs in seven innings Wednesday.
How they scored
Bottom 1st: Brown doubled, scored on Minicozzi (0-1).
Top 2nd: Farrell singled, scored on Latimore groundout (1-1).
Top 3rd: Maggi singled, scored on Holt single (2-1).
Top 5th: Maggi singled, Holt walked, both scored on Tejeda double (4-1); Fitzgerald wild pitch scored Tejeda (5-1).
Bottom 5th: Weeks singled, scored on Brown two-run homer (5-3).
Top 6th: Latimore solo homer (6-3); Cabrera doubled, scored on McPherson single (7-3); Quirarte wild pitch scored McPherson (8-3).
