Tuesday’s offensive output marked the fourth game in a row that featured eight runs or more, all victories for the Curve.

“Our approach has been really consistent,” Altoona manager Andy Fox said. “Last week in Harrisburg, really, the last three days really performed the bats well. The approach has been really good.”

Each starter recorded a hit and eight of the nine hitters in the line up scored at least once.

Curve starter Blake Townsend. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Third baseman Javier Rivas led all Altoona hitters with three hits, two of which were doubles. The first double came in the seven-run third inning that saw seven straight hits before Richmond could get an out.

“We were just getting pitches and we weren’t missing them,” Fox said. “That’s a big thing, too. Just to add to swinging the bats is getting pitches and not missing them and not getting deep in counts and then executing.”

Nick Cimillo picked up his 24th extra base hit in the third this season with a two-run double to give the Curve a 3-0 lead. Derek Berg singled to score Cimillo before Rivas roped his double which scored both Berg and Termarr Johnson to make it 6-0.

P.J. Hilson walked to make it eight straight Altoona batters to reach, but Mitch Jebb struck out to record the first out. Konnor Griffin walked to load the bases and allowed Rivas to score on a ground out by Duce Gourson.

The production at the plate is a byproduct of what Fox and his staff have preached all season to their hitters about being consistent and trusting their processes and it’s paid big dividends of late.

“You just have to focus on the process,” Fox said. “Keep passing the baton. I think really, the second half, we’ve done such a better job of putting the ball in play and when we put the ball in play, it gives you a chance for some hits.”

The Curve finished the game with 15 hits on the night in a pivotal game for the second half crown.

Good start

Not to be outdone by the offense, starting pitcher Blake Townsend hurled five innings of shutout, one-hit baseball for Altoona.

Townsend has been used as the front end of a bullpen game for most of his time with the Curve this season and his ability to limit baserunners and go deep into the game provides Fox with even more weapons later this series.

“He’s throwing the ball,” Fox said. “He had a hiccup here. I think he’s had one hiccup, but just being able to get us to the fifth to help save the bullpen was good. Everybody’s bullpen is tired right now so the less innings we can go to the bullpen, the better.”

Playoff push

Altoona entered the game 2.5 games ahead of Richmond in the Eastern League Southwestern Division standings. With the win, that lead has grown to 3.5 games.

“Our focus has been playing good baseball, and letting everything else shake itself out,” Fox said. “We played pretty good baseball tonight. We did make some mistakes, but I know we scored more than they did, and that’s all that matters.”

Both Erie and Harrisburg lost, moving the Curve to a four game advantage over both of those teams.

Up next

Altoona will send RHP Po-Yu Chen to the mound for tonight’s matchup. Chen is 4-10 with a 5.84 ERA this season.