Curve Walk off in Wild One, 11-10
June 15, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - A walk-off sacrifice fly by Jordy Mercer in the bottom of the 10th inning capped a tremendous comeback for the Altoona Curve on Wednesday night as they defeated the New Britain Rock Cats, 11-10, at Blair County Ballpark. Altoona never led on Wednesday night and went ahead on the sac fly for their first lead in the entire series.
Trailing 10-8 entering the bottom of the 10th, New Britain handed the ball to reliever Blake Martin (0-1), who struggled with his control in the frame. He walked Jeremy Farrell to start the inning and then allowed a single to Tony Sanchez to put the tying runs on. Anthony Norman, who was sent to the plate to bunt, ended up drawing a walk to load the bases for Brad Chalk. Chalk hit a sacrifice fly to right that plated Farrell and Altoona was within one at 10-9.
That would be the last batter that Martin would face as they called upon Bruce Pugh to come in and stop the damage. He then walked Brock Holt to re-load the bases and put the tying run 90 feet away. Pugh proceeded to hit Starling Marte with the first pitch he threw and Sanchez scored from third to tie the game at ten. Mercer took the first pitch he saw into left-center for the game-winning sacrifice fly.
Altoona was down by scores of 4-0, 6-1 and 8-5 on Wednesday night and finally tied the game at eight in the seventh thanks to a two-out, bases-clearing double from Farrell off reliever Michael Tarsi.
Mercer also had a hand in keeping the game tied in the ninth when he threw out Mark Dolenc trying to score from third on a weak ground ball hit towards short with the bases loaded. Donnie Veal and Noah Krol (3-2) combined to work out of the bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth to keep the game tied.
New Britain scored twice in the 10th to reclaim the lead, 10-8, before Altoona walked off with victory in the bottom half of the frame.
Mercer had two hits in the win while Matt Curry and Norman each went 3-for-5. Curry slugged his second Double-A home run to pull the Curve within one at 6-5 in the sixth inning.
On the flip side, Altoona did surrender 20 hits, which ties a franchise high that has now been done five times including tonight. The Curve last allowed 20 hits on August 1, 2008 vs. Bowie. Even stranger, Altoona pitching did not record a strikeout in the win on Wednesday night.
Altoona (32-32) and New Britain (34-29) will meet in the final game of the three-game series beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday night from BCB. It will be the first night in the Nittany Travel Summer Cruise Series, with the first 500 fans 21 & over taking home a set of Aviator Sunglasses thanks to Bud Light.
Fans must collect the sunglasses and the other three giveaway items that will be given out throughout the season and bring them all to the game on September 4th vs. Richmond to be entered in to a drawing for one cruise for four thanks to Nittany Travel.
Thursday will also be a Thirsty Thursday at BCB with $2 16oz. Bud Light drafts and $1.50 22oz. sodas during the game thanks to Rocky 104.9. Local UFC Fighter Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman will be at the game on Thursday night to sign autographs for the fans in attendance as well.
RHP Kyle McPherson (0-1, 4.76) will make his first home start for the Curve on Thursday since being promoted from High-A Bradenton late last week. He'll be opposed by RHP Bobby Lanigan (5-4, 3.78) for New Britain. Gates open up at 6 p.m. and air time on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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