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The Altoona Curve continued their season-long home run display Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field in a 14-10 win over Chesapeake with five long balls.
Those home runs brought Altoona's total for the season to 108 through 99 games. Coming into Thursday's game, 20 different players had a homer for the Curve -- but Easton Carmichael made that 21 with his first two home runs at Double-A and his first multi-home run game as a professional.
"It felt great," Carmichael said. "I had a couple in college, but it felt good to get the monkey off my back per se in pro ball, because you never try to hit multiple home runs, but when you get one early, it's always in the back of your head."
Carmichael had three hits and five RBIs in his best game since being promoted from High-A Greensboro on July 24.
"He hasn't missed a beat from Greensboro," Curve manager Andy Fox said. "We heard a lot of things that he has been doing well, and he's kept it going. He's also done a great job learning and handling the staff since he's been here."
Carmichael was a third-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2025 out of Oklahoma and hit .305 with 16 home runs, 14 doubles and two triples at Greensboro.
"It's ultimately the same game," Carmichael said. "You still play nine innings and have to get 27 outs. It's the same game. It's just a matter of focusing on being consistent, being a professional and going about my business the right way. That's all I can control."
Altoona has a chance to break its franchise record of 143 home runs as a team set in 2022. Omar Alfonzo, Lonnie White Jr. and Titus Dumitru also left the yard on Thursday's game in front of 4,465 fans.
"I think the Pirates have done a great job in their system honestly," Carmichael said. "We have a lot of good hitters. We have a lot of good hitters in the organization, and it's showing. I don't think the guys think about the park they are playing in. They just go in and try to win pitches, and ultimately the ball leaves the yard."
Fox said his team isn't seeking home runs, but the approach the Curve encourage leads to that result.
"With a lot of these guys, they get good pitches to hit, if they put a good swing on it, they have a good chance to leave the ballpark, especially with the way the ball has been flying this year," Fox said. "You're not trying to hit home runs. You're just trying to get a good swing off."
For years, PNG Field, previously known as Blair County Ballpark, was known as a pitcher's park, but Eastern League opponents as well as the Curve players have been hitting the ball out more often this season.
"I couldn't tell you the reason why," Fox said. "All I can say is guys are bigger and stronger these days and impact the ball a little better."
Stumbo wins
Peyton Stumbo started Thursday's game and came into it with a 1-9 record but pitched six innings, struck out nine and won his first game since June 10.
He also pitched 102 pitches -- a total not reached often within the Pirates minor league organization this season, in fact he became the first Curve pitcher to go over the 100-pitch mark this year.
"He's been grinding," Fox said. "He helped us out by going six. We pushed the limit a little with him going over 100 pitches, but he still looked strong and was able to give us six innings which was huge for us."
Eight-run inning
After Chesapeake put up 21 runs in the first two games of the series, Altoona broke out in the bottom of the second inning with eight runs.
Dumitru had the big blow -- a two-out, three-run home run. It was his 14th home run of the season. Jesus Castillo and Carmichael each had two-run singles in the inning.
Unearned madness
Fifteen runs in Thursday's game were unearned as the teams combined for seven errors.
Circus in town
Members of the Nitro Circus 2.0 Tour, which features freestyle motocross, BMX, skate and scooter demonstrations, performed near the entrance of PNG Field prior to Thursday's game.
A full show will take place on Saturday, Aug. 8 at PNG Field at 7 p.m. and tickets, starting at $35, can be purchased on www.nitrocircus.com.
Adam Jones, the decorated freestyle motocross athlete -- not the former MLB baseball player, will attempt a 75-foot backflip breaking through a 35-foot wall of fire.
Bobblehead giveaway
The first 2,000 fans attending tonight's Curve game will receive a Konnor "Griffin the Great" Bobblehead featuring the Pirates shortstop in wizard attire.
Next stop
Tonight: Chesapeake Baysox at Altoona Curve, 6 p.m.
Pitching matchup: Baysox LHP Joseph Dzierwa (2-1) vs. Curve RHP Matt Ager (4-2)
Radio: 98.5-FM