Hartford Steals Win with Late Comeback
August 20, 2019 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve rallied back from a 3-0 hole to claim a late lead but a two-run ninth inning powered a Harford Yard Goats win, 5-4, Tuesday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
In a back and forth finish, the Curve (63-64, 27-32) scored four late runs, including three in the eighth inning but could not stop the Yard Goats (66-59, 29-29) in the ninth.
The Curve started their scoring in the seventh, trailing 3-0. Bligh Madris knocked a one-out single to left off Hartford reliever Mitch Horacek. He reached third on a Jerrick Suiter single and scored on a Jason Delay sacrifice fly.
They continued to claw back in the bottom of the eighth. Oneil Cruz popped off the bench as a pinch-hitter and lined a first-pitch single into left field off new Hartford reliever Jordan Foley (Win, 4-4). Cruz advanced to third on a Brett Pope single and scored in the next at-bat when Jesse Medrano grounded into a double play. Jared Oliva then extended the inning with a two-out single. Three pitches later, Logan Hill launched his 11th homer of the season over the center field wall to give the Curve a 4-3 lead. It was Hill's fourth home run in his last eight games.
In the top of the ninth, Curve reliever Blake Cederlind (Loss, 5-1) got a quick first out before giving up back-to-back walks to Brian Serven and Carlos Herrera. Colton Welker then tied the game with a pitch-hit single to score Serven. After Manny Melendez was intentionally walked, Vance Vizcaino put the Yard Goats on top with a fielder's choice to second base that scored Herrera.
The Curve managed one hit in the ninth off Hartford reliever Scott Griggs (Save, 14) but failed to score. It was the Curve's second loss when leading after eight innings this season.
Beau Sulser scattered seven hits across a career-high six innings in the start for Altoona. He struck out three batters with no walks, allowed two runs, one of which was earned, and induced three double plays.
Hartford scored their first run in the third inning on a pair of triples. Herrera knocked a lead-off triple down the right field line and, two batters later, Melendez sent the second triple of the inning to right as well and gave the Yard Goats a 1-0 lead. The two got involved in the scoring again in the fifth when Herrera lined a lead-off single and reached third on an error by Delay, the Curve catcher. Melendez plated Herrera on a double play ball for a 2-0 advantage. Herrera finished with two hits and scored three runs.
Hartford tacked on another run in the seventh off Curve reliever Nick Mears, pitching in his Double-A debut. Vince Fernandez doubled to open the inning and scored on a pitch-hit sacrifice fly by Mylz Jones.
Hartford starter Matt Whitehouse limited the Curve bats to three hits over five scoreless innings. He had no walks and picked up three strikeouts.
Fernandez led all players with three hits for the Yard Goats, while Adrian Valerio and Oliva each had two hits for the Curve. Medrano picked up his first Double-A hit in the loss, a lead-off single in the fourth.
The Curve and Yard Goats will finish their three-game series on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Curve will turn to left-hander Domingo Robles (2-6, 4.83) opposite Yard Goats right-hander Matt Dennis (4-2, 3.34).
Gates for Wednesday's game will open at 5 p.m. It's Italian Heritage Night at the ballpark including $5 meatball subs available at the concession stand behind Section 107 on the third base side. There will also be 50-cent boneless wings for Wing Wednesday. It's Guaranteed WINsday, so if the Curve win, fans can get a ticket of equal or lesser value to the final Wednesday home game in 2019, presented by the Altoona Mirror. 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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