The Curve beat the Flying Squirrels tonight to earn a sweep of the 3-game series against Richmond. �Starter Jared Hughes earned his second win of the season (in two starts), going 5.2 innings and allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and one walk, while striking out 7 batters. �The two runs against him were both solo home runs -- one came in the 4th inning and one in the 5th. �Hughes had little trouble until the 3rd inning, when a lead-off single, a double, and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. �But Hughes left all three where they stood when he struck out the next two batters. �Besides the homers, Hughes gave up a walk in the 4th, then a single in the 5th. �The top of the 6th began with two outs, then Hughes gave up a single, and that was the end of his evening.
Reliever Michael Dubee came in for Hughes. �He loaded the bases with a walk and a single before getting a grounder for a force out to end the inning. �Dubee gave up a double to lead off the 7th, then retired the next three batters, including two strikeouts. �Jeff Sues earned his second save with 2 scoreless innings of work. �He gave up three hits and struck out two batters.
The Curve batters got onto the scoreboard first, when C Hector Gimenez led off the 2nd inning with a solo homer. �2B Josh Harrison followed the homer with a double. �He moved to third base on 1B Matt Hague's ground out, then a squeeze bunt by LF Jose De Los Santos brought in Harrison with the second run of the inning. �Harrison scored again in the 4th inning. �With two outs, he beat out a single to short, then scored on Hague's RBI double.
Donnie Veal came to the Pirates as a Rule 5 Draft pick in December 2008. �He had been the Cubs' 2nd round draft pick in 2005, and had climbed as high as the AA level in their organization, but ran into difficulties with his mechanics and subsequently his control. �Veal had to be kept on the Pirates' major league roster for all of the 2009 season (or else be sent back to the Cubs), and it must have been a frustrating season for him. �He did begin the 2009 season in the Pirates' bullpen, but made only 5 relief appearances over April and May. �Veal was placed on the Disabled List with a groin strain at the end of May, which enabled him to make some "rehab" starts in the minor leagues. �He reported to the Indy Indians on June 8th, and over the next month, the Mississippi native made one start and 8 relief appearances. �He accumulated 14 innings with the Indians, but continued to struggle with his control. �In those 9 games, he allowed 16 walks and 6 hits, for 10 runs and a 6.43 ERA. �He also struck out 13 batters. �Veal continued to see occasional action with the Pirates upon his return, but then he sprained his left index finger, and went onto the Disabled List again. �This time, his rehab time was spent in Altoona, from August 18th to .
