Ever since dropping the first 12 games of the season, the Altoona Curve have been playing much better baseball ever since.

The Curve may be 12 games back in the Eastern League Southwest Division, but they’ve managed to win seven of their last 12, including a split of the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Friday night.

The Curve clawed for five runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 5-4 comeback victory in Game 1 before being dominated 10-0 in the nightcap in front of 2,787 fans.

“I think guys are just getting adjusted to this level,” Curve manager Andy Fox said. “You start seeing the gradual progression they’re making. The at-bats have gotten better. For the most part, we’ve been throwing strikes.

“It’s just playing more consistent baseball. I don’t think we’ve played bad baseball, but we’ve been more consistent.”

Game one

After having just two hits through five innings, the Curve exploded for five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a 5-4 victory in one of their best wins of the season.

The big hit came from catcher Omar Alfonzo with a bases-clearing double to put the Curve ahead 5-4. Shawn Ross blasted a 2-run homer earlier in the inning to get the Curve on the board.

“You’re down and it’s getting late and you have a short game. I give these guys credit,” Fox said. “Despite our record, they’ve played the nine innings, and that’s what we preach. Play nine innings and see what happens. They’ve been doing that. I have no complaints.”

Southpaw Dominic Perachi went four innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits and struck out five. Jaycob Deese earned the win in relief, while Emmanuel Chapman recorded the save after a scoreless top of the seventh.

Squirrels starter Trystan Vrieling, who was a piece in the trade from the New York Yankees in the Camilo Doval trade last year, pitched five scoreless innings before running into trouble in the sixth inning.

Game two

A five-run top of the first for the Squirrels was plenty in a 10-0 loss in the nightcap.

Noah Murdock, who was a member of the Athletics as a Rule 5 pick last year and was called up earlier this week, lasted just • of an inning. He allowed five earned runs and walked two as he faced just six batters.

Richmond also tagged Curve relief pitcher Tyrone Yulie for five earned runs over the final two innings.

“You have to do a better job of throwing strikes,” Fox said. “Pitching sets the tone, and being down 5-0 early in a short game makes it hard to come back.”

Jesus Castillo and Keiner Delgado had two hits apiece for the Curve.

White debuts

Lonnie White Jr., who was the 64th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Pirates, made his Double-A debut in the first game. White was hitting .298 through 23 games in High-A Greensboro before getting called up on Thursday.

White went 1 for 2 and scored a run in his debut in Altoona.

Up next

The series continues Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Khristian Curtis, who had 10 strikeouts in five innings in his last start, will get the ball for the Curve. Richmond has not named a starter for Saturday’s game.