Father Abrahan's Sunday Sermon Sends Altoona to Extra-Inning Victory
Published on June 11, 2023 under Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
RICHMOND, Va. - With Altoona trailing Richmond 4-2 with one out in the top of the ninth inning, Abrahan Gutierrez demolished his first Double-A home run, a two-run shot, to tie the game as the Curve came from behind to pick up an extra-inning victory, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond.
The home run traveled an estimated 397 feet down the left field line at 106 mph, with the only question whether or not the ball would stay fair. Mason Martin had a one-out single off reliever Jose Cruz to get on before Gutierrez came to the plate. Cruz would quickly retire the side with the game tied following the shot.
Travis MacGregor worked another dominant relief appearance in the win for Altoona. He entered in the eighth inning and tossed the final three frames out of the Curve bullpen, allowing no runs on two hits with five strikeouts. He allowed a lead-off single in the ninth before striking out the next three batters to send the game to extra innings. MacGregor worked a perfect tenth to earn the win.
In the top of the tenth inning, Lolo Sanchez reached on a bunt single that advanced placed runner Matt Fraizer to third base. Claudio Finol then scored Fraizer on a sacrifice bunt to give the Curve the 5-4 win. Altoona won three games in the series with the Flying Squirrels, coming from behind in each of them.
Martin put Altoona on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI-single to score Connor Scott, who doubled to lead-off the frame. The next Altoona run would not come until the eighth inning, when Liover Peguero extended his on-base streak to 10 games with an RBI-single.
Kyle Nicolas got the start for the Curve and allowed two runs on two hits in 4.0 innings with four strikeouts. Both runs came off the bat of Marco Luciano, who lifted a two-run home run over the center field wall in the third.
Brad Case and Noe Toribio each worked a scoreless inning of relief before Richmond tacked on two late runs off Tyler Samaniego in the seventh inning on a Simon Whiteman double.
Gutierrez, Scott, and Martin each finished the game with two hits. The win improves the Altoona record to 30-25 as the Curve remain in first place in the Southwest Division with 13 games remaining in the first half.
Altoona will be off on Monday before continuing a 12-game road trip on Tuesday evening with the Somerset Patriots, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Both teams are yet to announce a starting pitcher.
The Curve is proud to celebrate 25 years of memories in Curve, PA throughout the 2023 season. For tickets or more information, 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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