EL1 Altoona Curve

Baysox Hold off Curve in Series Opener

Published on August 16, 2019 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but their rally fell short in a 6-2 loss to the Bowie Baysox in the opener of a three-game series on Friday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Jared Oliva came to the plate with the bases loaded, two outs and the Curve (60-63, 24-31) trailing, 6-2, in the bottom of the ninth, but Baysox (68-55, 38-17) reliever Zach Muckenhirn (Save, 5) got Oliva to line out to shortstop Mason McCoy to end the game. The rally started when Bligh Madris and Jerrick Suiter hit back-to-back singles off Tyler Erwin to start the frame. Madris scored on a throwing error from third baseman Willy Yahn after Yahn made a diving stop on a Jason Delay infield single, but that was all the Curve managed in the inning.

Bowie out-hit Altoona, 13-8, and scored runs in five separate innings while the Curve went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.

The Baysox jumped on the board on a two-out, RBI single from Carlos Perez in the top of the first off Curve starter Domingo Robles (Loss, 2-6). They extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a two-run single from Zach Jarrett after Perez singled and Jesmuel Valentin doubled to open the inning. Perez, who went 3-for-4 in the game with two RBIs and two runs scored, hit a solo homer to left off Robles in the sixth to keep the scoring going for Bowie. Robles was tagged for four runs on a season-high 11 hits in six innings. He struck out four batters and walked one.

Bowie added two more runs in the seventh when Cedric Mullins snuck a two-run homer inside the right-field foul pole off Tom Koehler, who left the game after recording just one out in his Curve debut. Angel German took over for Koehler, got the final two outs of the seventh and worked 2.2 hitless frames with three strikeouts.

The Curve scored their first run of the night in the fourth off Baysox starter Cody Sedlock (Win, 1-1). Oneil Cruz hit an RBI double to the right-center gap to score Oliva, who beat out an infield single leading off the inning, before Sedlock retired the next three batters in order to end the threat. The right-hander allowed just one run on four hits in five innings with three strikeouts and one walk in his first Double-A win.

Oliva, Madris and Suiter each had two hits while Cruz, along with his double, and Brett Pope each walked twice in the loss. Defensively, Chris Sharpe picked up his ninth outfield assist when the Curve cut down a runner at the plate in the second inning and Delay threw out two runners trying to steal second base.

The Curve and Baysox continue their three-game series on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Curve will turn to right-hander Pedro Vasquez (6-3, 2.91) opposite Bowie southpaw Zac Lowther (12-6, 2.71).

Gates will open for fans at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Postgame FIREWORKS with a U2 theme, presented by Altoona Honda, Alto Reste Park & Good Funeral Home, will highlight the night. The Griffith Family Foundation Auction, presented by Good Funeral Home & Alto Reste Park, will take place at the ballpark. Continuing with the night's events, it's also Clarion & Jefferson County Night, presented by MEGA Rock. Before the game, enjoy live music from Chris Vipond and the Stanley Street Band as part of the Curve Concert Series, presented by Unlimited Cycle Center. For tickets or more information about upcoming promotions, 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 August 16, 2019


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