EL Altoona Curve

18 Curve Reach Base, Two Score in Saturday Night Defeat

Published on July 10, 2021 under Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, PA - The Altoona bats were alive on Saturday night as the Curve outhit the RubberDucks 10-4, but a pair of costly errors and lack of timely hitting lifted Akron over Altoona, 3-2, at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Altoona stranded 13 runners on base in the contest with hits in every inning but the ninth. The Curve scored in the first inning when Mason Martin grounded into a bases loaded double play to score a run. Altoona would only manage the one run in the frame after Daniel Amaral was retired next to end the inning.

Akron got on the board in the top of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Brad Case entered the game in relief and got what seemed to be an inning-ending double play ball off the bat of Ike Freeman. However, second baseman Ji-Hwan Bae's throw to first was in the dirt and got past Martin, allowing two runs to cross to give the RubberDucks the lead.

Altoona would tie the game 2-2 in the seventh when Bae scored on a wild pitch from Manuel Alvarez. Altoona was kept scoreless from that point forward, stranding five runners over the last three frames.

Akron took the lead for good in the eighth inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Martin misplayed a ball at first base that could have ended the inning, resulting in the go-ahead runner scoring on Altoona's second costly error of the night.

Altoona starter Omar Cruz struck out four batters over 4.2 innings of work. Nathan Kirby made his Curve debut in relief, retiring two batters with two walks and a strikeout. Case picked up a blown save and took the loss, while Cristofer Melendez threw two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. The Curve walked 10 batters in the loss, one shy of a season-high 11.

RubberDucks starter Adam Scott allowed one run on 5.0 innings pitched. Skylar Arias earned his fourth win of the season in 1.2 scoreless innings while Juan Mota tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

Curve designated hitter Chase Murray had three hits in the contest, his first three-hit game in Double-A.

The Curve and RubberDucks conclude their series on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. Sunday is Loco's 6th Birthday with a Loco Pencil Holder Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans, presented by Sheetz. There will post-game fireworks, presented by M&T Bank. RHP Steven Jennings (AA Debut) will start for Altoona, he'll be opposed by LHP Logan T. Allen (AA Debut).

For tickets or more information about Curve Baseball, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.

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Eastern League Stories from July 10, 2021


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