Battery Mates Marvel, Pabst Spark Win over Senators
May 18, 2019 - Eastern League (EL) - Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve stayed hot at the plate while James Marvel and the bullpen held the Harrisburg Senators in check in the Curve's 8-2 win on Saturday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Down 2-0 through two innings, the Curve (21-20) sent nine men to the plate and jumped on Senators (29-12) starter Sterling Sharp (Loss, 4-3) for five runs on five hits in the third. Bligh Madris, Logan Hill and Jerrick Suiter all hit RBI singles, and Arden Pabst crushed a two-run triple to the right-center gap to cap off the rally and give the Curve a 5-2 lead. Sharp lasted five innings, surrendering six hits and three walks.
Marvel (Win, 4-4) started the five-run outburst in the third with a lead-off double down the third base line. This came after he gave up two runs in the second inning, including a solo homer to Chuck Taylor, but settled in from there. Marvel allowed just the two runs while scattering five hits with three strikeouts and one walk in a strong, bounce-back performance.
The Curve were held scoreless through the middle innings then loaded the bases with three straight singles to start the eighth and scored three times against Aaron Barrett. Pinch-hitter Jared Oliva was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, which chased Barrett from the game. Mitchell Tolman followed with a two-run single off Taylor Guilbeau to extend the Curve lead to 8-2.
Joel Cesar checked in after Marvel and worked two scoreless frames with four strikeouts. The Senators had runners at second and third and only one out in the seventh, but Cesar came back with a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat, before working a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Matt Eckelman was summoned for the ninth and set the Senators down in order with two strikeouts to finish off the win.
Hill's two singles pushed his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 15 games, which is now the longest active streak in the league. Owen and Suiter each collected two hits while Pabst picked up his second two-RBI game this series.
The Curve and Senators will play the finale of their four-game series on Sunday at 2 p.m. Right-hander Pedro Vasquez (3-1, 3.52) will toe the rubber for the Curve against Senators right-hander Tyler Mapes (2-2, 5.14).
Sunday's game will be highlighted by a Postgame Helicopter Candy Drop, which will go with the Halloween at the Ballpark theme. Prior to the game, there will be a Youth Baseball Clinic from 10:00 a.m.-12 p.m., free to kids ages 3-12 with a ticket to Sunday's game. It's also another Ritchey's Dairy Kids' Club Game and the final game of Allegany County School District Weekend.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from May 18, 2019
- Taylor Homers and Baez Sharp, but Sens Fall 8-2 - Harrisburg Senators
- Offense Erupts in 12-1 Series-Clinching Win - Bowie Baysox
- Thunder Fall to Ponies in Pitching Duel - Trenton Thunder
- Hill Homers on Saturday in Bowie - Erie SeaWolves
- Flying Squirrels Quiet RubberDucks, 5-2 - Akron RubberDucks
- Fightin Phils move to five games over for first time with their third straight win - Reading Fightin Phils
- Battery Mates Marvel, Pabst Spark Win over Senators - Altoona Curve
- Tendler Provides Lone Run, 'Dogs Fall 4-1 at Reading - Portland Sea Dogs
- Goats Nearly 'Purr-Fect' against Cats - Hartford Yard Goats
- Erie SeaWolves vs. Bowie Baysox - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Sea Dogs Game Notes May 18th at Reading - Portland Sea Dogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
