Gutierrez helps Curve get a walk-off win in extras
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Abrahan Gutierrez's 10th inning, walk-off sacrifice fly gave the Altoona Curve a 5-4 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels Thursday night in front of 4,395 fans at PNG Field.
While Gutierrez was the hero at the end, it was second baseman Kervin Pichardo who added in the defensive heroics to set the stage for Gutierrez in the bottom of the 10th.
"In that situation, you're trying to make sure that the ball doesn't get into the outfield," Curve manager Robby Hammock said. "He was able to do that and then the huge bonus was he was able to convert the play and get the out and that was unbelievable."
For Pichardo, he was just trying to make sure the runner at second had no chance of scoring.
"It's a knock-down mentality, anything close, lie down and not make the ball go to the outfield so the runner can't score," Pichardo said.
In the bottom half of the 10th, Pichardo set the stage for Gutierrez's walk-off by sacrificing short stop Tsung-Che Cheng to third with a perfectly executed bunt.
"I just wanted to lay one down," Pichardo said. "I know Cheng is a good runner. I know any bunt he's gonna get to third easily so I was just all about laying a ball down."
To get to extra innings, the Curve had a seventh inning rally for the second night in a row by tying the game up at 4-4 by way of some timely hitting and aggressive baserunning.
Designated hitter Carter Bins led off the inning with a walk before stealing second base on the next pitch. Bins scored from second on a single by third baseman Jackson Glenn.
Glenn stole second then took third on a wild pitch by Richmond's Ben Madison.
Cheng walked to set up first and third with no outs before Pichardo hit into a run-scoring double play to tie the game at four. That there was no play at the plate came as a shock to Hammock, but after tying the game, he certainly wasn't going to complain.
"I was a little taken aback. I thought for sure they were gonna go home in that situation," Hammock said. "They were set up in a depth that either turned the double play or went home, depending on how and where the balls hit. For me, I want us to go home in that situation just to get the single out at home. They turned an unbelievable double play and just killed the inning as it was right there."
The situational hitting the Curve displayed Thursday night has been on full display in their three-game winning streak this homestand as it's helped Altoona claw back toward .500 in the second half of the season.
Masterful Meis
Bethel Park's Justin Meis came away from the game with the win courtesy of his brilliant performance against the Flying Squirrels.
Meis tossed the final three innings and escaped two innings where runners were on second base with no outs unscathed.
"Him being able to limit the damage there, he made big pitches there in some huge spots," Hammock said.
Chapman grinds
Altoona starter Emmanuel Chapman went four strong innings for the Curve to pave the way on their bullpen game. Chapman allowed an unearned run in the first inning, but tossed three scoreless frames to round out his outing.
It wasn't pretty for Chapman as he allowed three walks, but he was able to hold Richmond hitless and strikeout five to give length for Hammock's squad.
"Since June, we've been throwing the ball pretty well overall as a group," Hammock said. "They're getting more reps since some of our starting pitching has been in flux lately between injuries and guys getting moved and such, they're getting more reps and more chances. They're making the most of it."
Roster moves
Lefty Nick Dombkowski returns to the Curve to bolster a bullpen and pitching staff that has been taxed this week.
Dombkowski is 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in eight games for Altoona this year. He's 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA with triple-A Indianapolis in 14 games.
Next stop
Tonight: Richmond Flying Squirrels at Altoona Curve, 6 p.m.
Pitchers: Richmond RHP Will Bednar (0-1, 6.59) vs. Altoona RHP Bubba Chandler (5-7, 3.93)
Records: Richmond (45-54); Altoona (43-56)