RICHMOND, Va. — Beginning a critical series with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Curve infielder Duce Gourson slammed a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth to lead Altoona to a 7-5 win over the Squirrels on Tuesday night.

Gourson, who picked up three hits and a walk in the win, stepped up to the batter’s box after Altoona got an infield single from Javier Rivas and Tres Gonzalez to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Gourson lifted a 1-0 offering from Richmond closer Tyler Myrick over the wall in left-center to take the lead for Altoona.

Nick Cimillo added an insurance run in the ninth after Gourson’s homer, driving in Termarr Johnson with a double. Cimillo, who also slugged his 12th homer of the season in the victory, combined with the top three hitters in the Altoona order (Mitch Jebb, Gourson and Johnson) for 10 of the team’s 12 hits.

Antwone Kelly turned in one of his strongest outings with Altoona, going 5ª innings with four strikeouts. Kelly nearly matched his career-long outing, but was lifted after hitting Carter Howell with a runner on base and two outs in the sixth. Blake Townsend entered and surrendered a game-tying three-run homer to Turner Hill, as well as a go-ahead single to Adrian Sugastey before getting out of the inning. Townsend did toss a scoreless seventh inning.

Landon Tomkins worked out of bases-loaded jam in his team debut, tossing a scoreless eighth inning, before handing the ball off to Justin Meis who earned his fifth save of the season.

Gourson is batting .471 in his last five games.

Roster moves

The Pirates made the following changes to the Curve roster with pitchers Wilkin Ramos and Ryan Harbin moved up from the Curve to Indianapolis, and fellow pitchers Tomkins and Mike Walsh called up to Altoona from Greensboro. Infielder Brenden Dixon was released by the Curve.