Trending
By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
The Altoona Curve overcame a seven-run deficit in the seventh inning to overtake the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 9-7, Wednesday afternoon in front of 4,311 fans at PNG Field.
As the Flying Squirrels were scoring runs in the top of the seventh inning, Curve manager Robby Hammock was contemplating what his next move was going to be pitcher-wise.
"I was thinking, 'if it stays like this, what position player can I throw in the ninth?' was what was going through my head because we need to preserve some innings for later this week" Hammock said.
Those thoughts weren't needed as the Altoona offense rattled off eight baserunners in a row, which included six singles, a double and a walk.
"We were able to cash in on them in one inning which was pretty remarkable," Hammock said. "The offense did a nice job of waking up right there and taking advantage."
One of the key factors in the comeback, and completion of the comeback, was a relative newcomer to Double-A, Nick Cimillo.
Entering Wednesday's contest, Cimillo was hitting .194 in nine games with the Curve before his two-hit afternoon launched his average to .229 to finish the day. It was the type of game he needed after struggling at first upon joining the club.
"It's definitely important and it just shows the kind of a player I am," Cimillo said. "I can be resilient, I can be a middle arm kind of hitter and I want to prove that and what I did (Wednesday) was pushing me to that standard."
Cimillo anchored a heart of the order that included Sammy Siani, Kervin Pichardo and Tres Gonzalez recording a total of nine hits between the four players which helped spark the rally.
The Curve took the lead for the first time in the eighth inning on Cimillo's RBI single that plated Tsung-Che Cheng ,who walked and advanced to third after Pichardo walked, plus a sacrifice bunt from Siani.
Gonzalez laid down a well-executed squeeze to score Pichardo and give Altoona a two-run cushion for the ninth.
"There were times this year we've done that a little bit to a smaller scale, but that was obviously our biggest comeback by far." Hammock said. "There's been times where we felt like we were getting handed the game and we couldn't finish it off so that was good to see. Hopefully, it creates a little bit of belief after you know having a slow, slow start after the All-Star break."
The comeback tied a franchise record for largest comeback to win marking the fourth time they have come back from a seven-run deficit.
You make the call
Curve starter Po-Yu Chen tossed 6• innings against the Flying Squirrels to mixed results, which included four earned runs.
His struggles were magnified in the third when he allowed three runs, two of which were earned, but on a day where he needed to go late into the game, he was able to manage his pitch count to do so and help the bullpen.
"You could just tell he was grinding out there, but he was able to manage 6• innings," Hammock said. "He kept his pitch count down, relatively low and was able to get us some key innings."
Roster moves
Infielder Mike Jarvis returned to Altoona from Indianapolis where he hit .210 in 30 games. It marks his second stint with the Curve this season as he spent the start of the year in Altoona. Jarvis hit .071 in his first stint with the Curve.
Next up
The Curve will send Emmanual Chapman to the mound tonight. Chapman is 2-1 with a 4.31 ERA on the season.