Bullpen Arms Toss 'Ducks Aside in 3-2 Win
July 7, 2022 - Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
AKRON, OH - Enmanuel Mejia, Nick Dombkowski and Tahnaj Thomas delivered 5.1 brilliant innings in relief to lead the Curve to a 3-2 win over the Akron RubberDucks on Thursday night at Canal Park.
After Altoona's starter Kyle Nicolas allowed his first run in the fourth inning, Mejia entered and stranded the bases loaded to keep Akron's offense in a slumber. Mejia and Dombkowski combined to retire ten straight batters to take the game into the eighth inning; providing ample opportunity for the Curve offense to get started.
The Curve scratched out a pair of runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. After a walk from Brendt Citta and a base hit from Liover Peguero, Connor Scott bounced a grounder to first base, however Micah Pries' throw to second base was wild and allowed Citta to score and Peguero to advance to third. Matt Fraizer then reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Peguero and take a 2-1 lead.
Altoona added to the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Fraizer crossed home on a fielding error by 3B Raynel Delgado which secured a 3-1 lead.
The insurance run proved gigantic as Akron SS Bryan Rocchio led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer off Dombkowski to make it a 3-2 game. After Eric Rodriguez doubled in the next at-bat and advanced to third on George Valera's groundout, the Curve summoned Thomas into the game and he quickly struck out Jhonkensy Noel and got Micah Pries to line out to first base to end the inning.
Thomas picked up his second save of the season with a smooth 1-2-3 ninth inning finishing the game with his second strikeout in relief. The three relievers for Altoona held Akron to just two hits over the final 5.1 innings of the game.
Jared Triolo picked up three hits to pace a nine-hit attack at the plate for Altoona. It was the second straight game with three hits for Triolo and his fourth time this season with a hat trick of knocks at the plate.
With the win, Altoona picked up the 1600th win in franchise history. All-time in franchise history, Altoona is 1,600-1,555.
The series continues Friday afternoon between Altoona and Akron. The doubleheader will get underway at 3:30 p.m. consisting of a pair of seven-inning games to make up Monday's postponement. RHP Aaron Shortridge will start in game one for the Curve with game two to be determined. RHP Luis Oviedo is slated to start the first game of the doubleheader tomorrow for Akron.
Altoona returns to Peoples Natural Gas Field on Tuesday, July 11 for a six-game series with the Richmond Flying Squirrels. For tickets and more information about Curve Baseball, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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Eastern League Stories from July 7, 2022
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