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By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
Jase Bowen's two-run home run in the second inning helped propel the Altoona Curve to a 5-1 victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels Tuesday night in front of 5,183 fans at PNG Field.
Bowen deposited a pitch from Richmond's John Michael Bertrand over the wall in left-center field to plate Nick Cimillo and give Altoona a 2-0 lead.
It was important to get to Bertrand early as the Richmond starter was 3-1 in his last four starts according to Curve manager Robby Hammock.
"He's tough. He knows how to mix it up," he said. "He hit his spots, but Bowen did a nice job of being aggressive, not missing his pitch and got us on board early.
Back-to-back doubles from Abrahan Gutierrez and Sammy Siani helped add some insurance for the Curve offense in the sixth inning. Gutierrez scored on Siani's double before Siani scored the first of his two runs on a single by Tres Gonzalez.
Siani scored from first base on a Cimillo double in the bottom of the eighth to give the Curve a 5-1 lead.
The ability to get timely hitting has been a struggle as Altoona after the all-star break. They are 2-8 since returning to play.
"We were able to tack on some runs late which was huge," Hammock said.
Welcome to town
Southpaw Cy Nielson was promoted from High-A Greensboro prior to Tuesday's game. Nielson had an adventurous inning in the sixth when he entered the game.
He allowed a lead-off double, followed by a single, a strikeout and a walk to load the bases with only one out. A catcher's interference plated the lone run for Richmond before Nielson struck out back-to-back Flying Squirrels to end the inning.
"I was proud of the way he was able to bend but not break," Hammock said. "He was able to dodge bullets there and make pitches when he had to. He's got good stuff. It's a matter of him just being able to control the zone a little better and get pitches in a better zone."
In the seventh, Nielson struck out one and induced two flyouts to round out his first Double A appearance.
Pitching power
Altoona starter Drake Fellows tossed three scoreless innings to get the ball rolling against Richmond.
From there it was all bullpen as the group navigated through jams and managed to keep the Flying Squirrels at bay.
Grant Ford worked the fourth and fifth innings and gave up one hit, struck out two and walked two before giving way to Nielson in the sixth inning.
Jack Carey got the ball following Nielson's outing and promptly threw two shutout innings.
"We were able to bend, but not break on the pitching side," Hammock said.
McAdoo traded
Altoona third baseman Charles McAdoo was scratched from Tuesday's lineup as a result of being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I don't think McAdoo really thought or had any idea that he'd be traded," Hammock said. "I think it caught him off guard and me too. We know anybody can go at any time."
McAdoo, who hit .269 with five home runs in 27 games for Altoona, was part of a trade that brought Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Pittsburgh from Toronto.
Roster moves
Pitcher Brad Case returned to Altoona after finishing his minor league rehab stint, while pitchers Hunter Barco and Chris Gau both were placed on the 7-Day IL. … Pitcher Luis Peralta was traded to Colorado and lefty pitcher Tyler Samaniego was transferred to the 60-Day IL. … Altoona righty Thomas Harrington was promoted to Indianapolis. Harrington was 2-2 with a 2.24 ERA in 13 games for the Curve this season.
Next up
The Curve will send righty Po-Yu Chen to the mound this afternoon. Chen is 4-7 with a 3.50 ERA on the season.