EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Comeback Falls Short in Loss to 'Ducks

Published on August 4, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - A five-run fifth inning for the Akron RubberDucks outweighed two Jordan George homer while the Altoona Curve left the bases loaded in three of the last four innings during a 9-8 loss on Saturday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The Curve (58-50) and RubberDucks (66-46) each went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left a combined 19 runners on base. Altoona had the bases full in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings without delivering a base hit to account for nine of their 12 total runners left on base.

With the Curve leading 5-2 after four, the RubberDucks struck for five runs and took the lead for good. Akron tied the game, 5-5, on an RBI triple by Sam Haggerty and sacrifice flies by Tyler Krieger and Connor Marabell. The inning continued when Ka'ai Tom reached on a throwing error by Ke'Bryan Hayes, the Eastern League's leader in fielding percentage, while the go-ahead run scored from first base. Daniel Salters doubled home Tom to give the 'Ducks a 7-5 lead at the halfway point in the game.

George homered in his first two at bats, each with the switch hitter batting right handed, and delivered the first three runs for the Curve. He clobbered a two-run shot in the second that tied the game, 2-2, and put the Curve ahead, 3-2, with a solo blast in the fourth.

The Curve followed George's second blast with a pair of walks and a single to load the bases for the first of four times. Stephen Alemais delivered a two-run double to increase the lead to three, the only Curve hit in five tries with the bases full. Alemais brought the Curve within one run in the seventh on his third RBI to score Logan Hill, who legged out an run-scoring infield hit earlier in the inning.

Between the RBI infield singles, Akron second baseman Alexis Pantoja saved a run with a diving catch on a pop up hit by Tyler Gaffney in shallow right field for the second out of the seventh.

Hayes saw the bases loaded three times on Saturday. He worked a run-scoring walk in the sixth before striking out to end the seventh and flew out to center to end the game in the ninth.

Akron's first five runs were charged Curve starter Luis Escobar, including a two-run double by Nellie Rodriguez after two first inning walks. Escobar issued a total of five walks and four led to runs for Akron. The right-hander struck out four over 4.1 innings and allowed just three hits.

Bret Helton (Loss, 5-6) took over for Escobar in the fifth and was charged with two unearned runs and surrendered two more in the sixth on a double by Connor Marabell. Geoff Hartlieb and Tate Scioneaux combined for three innings of scoreless relief to close out the game.

Christian Kelley went 4-for-5 with a double, the sixth four-hit game by a Curve hitter this season. George's two-home run effort was the fourth of the season for Altoona. In addition to two hits and three RBIs for Alemais, the Curve second baseman also walked twice.

The Curve and RubberDucks will conclude the season series between the two clubs on Sunday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. Left-hander Cam Vieaux (6-3, 3.94) will start for Altoona against right-hander Triston McKenzie (6-2, 2.77) for Akron.

There will be fireworks after Sunday's game, presented by All of Us Pennsylvania. The Comics Vault also presents an appearance by the Cat in the Hat. Every Sunday in Curve, Pa. is a Ritchey's Dairy Curve Kids' Club Game. The ballpark gates will open at 1 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.

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Eastern League Stories from August 4, 2018


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