Mercer's Walk-Off Winner Lifts Altoona Over Erie, 6-5
Published on August 24, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Jordy Mercer's walk-off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning brought home Josh Harrison for the game-winning run in Altoona's, 6-5, win over Erie on Tuesday night at Blair County Ballpark. It is the 76th win of the season for the Curve, which is now tied for third most in franchise history with the 2005 club.
Altoona entered the ninth down a run to the SeaWolves and Jose de los Santos grounded out to start the inning. Chase d'Arnaud drew a one-out walk and then subsequently stole second on the first pitch Lester Oliveros (1-2) threw to Harrison. The throw from the catcher John Murrian trying to get d'Arnaud went into centerfield and he popped up and went to third.
With the tying run 90 feet away, Oliveros hit Harrison to put the winning run on with one away. After Harrison stole second, Erie elected to intentionally walk Andrew Lambo to load the bases and set up a double play. Now with the bases loaded, Oliveros committed a balk before he even threw a pitch to Matt Hague and d'Arnaud trotted home from third with the game-tying run.
Hague was then intentionally walked with first base open to re-load the bases for Mercer, who after a battle with Oliveros, poked a single in and then out of the glove of centerfielder Kyle Peter to bring home Harrison for the game-winning run.
The Curve initially led in the game behind a solid pitching performance by Jared Hughes in his return to the starting rotation and a two-RBI double in the first by Mercer. Hughes pitched six innings and gave up one run on six hits with six strikeouts but would suffer a no decision after Erie tied and eventually took the lead in the eighth.
Erie scored four runs in the eighth inning, three off of Bryan Morris in his first career relief appearance, to take a, 5-3, lead. Altoona scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within one and set up the game for the crazy ninth.
Mercer had four hits in the game, finishing 4-for-5 with four RBI. The four hits and four RBI for the Oklahoma State product both tie career highs he set earlier this season. D'Arnaud's stolen base in the ninth was his 31st of the season, which ties him for fifth all time in a single-season. Nate McLouth also stole 31 bases for the Curve in 2004.
Winners of five straight and seven of its last eight, Altoona (76-52) will try and complete the sweep over Erie (58-71) in the series finale at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night in Curve, Pa. LHP Justin Wilson (10-6, 3.08) will start for the Curve while LHP Adam Wilk makes his Double-A debut for Erie.
Wednesday night in Curve, PA will be the final Wacky Wednesday of the year with the theme being It's All Greek To Me at the ballpark. It's also UPMC Health Plan Member Night at the ballpark with UPMC Health Plan members receiving two free tickets to Wednesday night's game.
Airtime on flagship ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network affiliates is set for 6:30 p.m. Great seats for the remainder of the homestand, including Wednesday night's contest, are available by calling 877.99.CURVE, visiting www.AltoonaCurve.com or by stopping in to the box office at BCB.
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