Richmond Flying Squirrels Walk Off Altoona Curve in 10-Inning Thriller

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels escaped with a 9-8 walk-off victory over the Altoona Curve in 10 innings Sunday night, prolonging Altoona’s miserable start to the season.

The Curve, Double-A affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates, have now lost their first eight games of the season, matching the franchise record set in 2009. Richmond, the San Francisco Giants’ Double-A affiliate, improves to 6-2.

Richmond built a 5-1 advantage through five innings before Altoona mounted its comeback. The rally was sparked by wildness from Flying Squirrels starting pitcher Trystan Vrieling. After Shawn Ross forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, Omar Alfonzo cleared the bases with a three-run double off the left-field wall, knotting the score at 5-5.

The Flying Squirrels reclaimed the lead in the seventh on a double by Charlie Szykowny, but Altoona answered again in the eighth, taking advantage of a Richmond error and working a pair of walks to plate another run and force another tie.

In the 10th, Derek Berg drove in two with a single up the middle, giving Altoona an 8-6 lead. The Curve appeared poised to end their winless streak but left the bases loaded as the frame ended with a pair of strikeouts.

Richmond refused to quit. Sabin Ceballos delivered an RBI double with one out, followed by a Jonah Cox double that tied the game. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Dayson Croes grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought home the winning run.

Altoona drew 12 walks on the night and ranks fourth among Double-A teams with 50 free passes through eight games. Curve starter Po-Yu Chen was touched for five runs on five hits over 3 1/3 innings, while Cy Nielson took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

The Curve will look to break through at home against Reading on Monday, while Richmond continues its homestand.