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Curve pitchers do the job

From Mirror reports

RICHMOND, Va. — The Curve pitching staff turned in an incredible night in a doubleheader sweep Saturday, snapping the team’s six-game losing streak.

Altoona’s pitchers tossed 15 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits in the doubleheader at Richmond. The Curve took the first game, 2-0, and the second, 1-0 in eight innings, at The Diamond.

James Marvel (2-1) pitched a one-hit complete-game shutout in the opener, striking out two with one walk.

The Curve scored two runs in the fifth inning, and that’s all they needed in finally putting an end to their losing streak.

Altoona loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth as Hunter Owen opened with a single, then Jerrick Suiter and Mitchell Tolman walked. Jason Delay’s groundout brought home Owen, and an error on third baseman Jonah Arenado allowed Suiter to score.

Marvel was marvelous, lowering his ERA to 1.99 with the dominant performance. The only hit he allowed came in the second inning when Richmond left-handed batter Brock Stassi went against a defensive shift by hitting a ball through the vacant left side of the infield for what turned into a double.

In the second game, Pedro Vasquez pitched a one-hitter over six scoreless innings, striking out five with one walk. He got a no-decision, though, as the game remained scoreless for seven innings.

The Curve finally scored the game’s lone run in the eighth, thanks to a clutch two-out hit from Jared Oliva.

The extra inning started with a runner at second base, and he was at third with two outs when Oliva came up. Oliva delivered a single up the middle to score Tolman with the go-ahead run.

Beau Sulser (2-0) pitched the seventh inning to earn the win for Altoona, while Matt Eckelman finished it off in the eighth for his third save.

Richmond’s runner to start the eighth on second base was Jin-De Jhang, a former Curve standout. Jhang was at third with one out, but Eckelman got a grounder to third for the second out, then ended the game by inducing a flyout to right.

Doubleheader recap

Key players: RHP James Marvel tossed a one-hitter over seven shutout innings in game one, and RHP Pedro Vasquez tossed a one-hitter over six shutout innings in game two.

Key plays: The Curve scored twice in the fifth inning to win the opener, and CF Jared Oliva’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth won game two.

Key stat: Curve pitchers gave up just two hits in 15 shutout innings in the doubleheader, and the team snapped a six-game losing streak.

How they scored

First game

Top 5th: Owen singled, scored on Delay groundout (1-0); Suiter walked, scored on Arenado error (2-0).

Second game

Top 8th: Tolman started on second, scored on Oliva single (1-0).

Next stop

Today: Idle for Easter

Next game: Altoona at Harrisburg, Monday, 6:30 p.m.

Record: 8-8

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