Late Rally Falls Short for Altoona
July 22, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth for Altoona and one away, Abrahan Gutierrez grounded into a game-ending double play to hand the Curve their second consecutive loss as Reading defeated Altoona, 3-1, in front of 6,018 fans on Saturday night at PNG Field.
With new reliever Brett Schultze taking the mound in the ninth, Claudio Finol knocked a lead-off single before pinch hitter Domingo Leyba drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Jackson Glenn then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position before Matt Fraizer drew a walk to load the bases. Gutierrez then grounded into the double play to bring an abrupt end to the comeback attempt.
Matthew Kroon hit a first inning lead-off home run for Reading of Curve starter Sean Sullivan, who allowed a second run in the second inning to finish with line of 2.0 innings, two runs allowed on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Glenn tied the game with a bottom of the first inning lead-off home run of his own, his first at the Double-A level. It was the only run in the contest for the Curve, who finished with seven hits but stranded 12 runners on base. Glenn finished a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-4 performance.
Justin Meis struck out a season-high six batters out of the bullpen for Altoona, working three scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Tahnaj Thomas struck out two batters and walked three over two scoreless frames with no hits allowed. Cameron Junker allowed two hits, including an RBI single in the eighth before Tyler Samaniego struck out two in the ninth inning.
Mike Jarvis stole two bases in his Double-A debut, finishing 0-for-3 with a walk. Gutierrez added two hits and a walk in the loss. Curve pitching totaled 13 strikeouts in the defeat.
Altoona finishes their six-game set with Reading on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. The Curve send RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the mound with Reading scheduled to pitch RHP Zach Haake. Pre-game coverage gets underway at 5:45 p.m. on Talk Radio 98.5 WRTA and online at www.bit.ly/CurveRadioNet.
The Curve are proud to celebrate our 25th Anniversary season in 2023. 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.
Eastern League Stories from July 22, 2023
- Flying Squirrels Survive Two Homer Game from Rodriguez and Down Ducks 6-5 in 11 - Akron RubberDucks
- Squirrels Outlast 'Ducks in Extra-Innings Thriller - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Seventh Inning Home Runs Drive Bowie to Series Clinching Victory Over Harrisburg - Chesapeake Baysox
- Rice's Two Homers And Four RBI Lead Somerset To Win - Somerset Patriots
- Late Rally Falls Short for Altoona - Altoona Curve
- Hunter Goodman and Colin Simpson Homer in Yard Goats' Loss - Hartford Yard Goats
- Clutch Pitching Powers Reading to Saturday Win - Reading Fightin Phils
- Sea Dogs' Super Powers Fall Short in 6-4 Loss - Portland Sea Dogs
- Erie Pitching Strikes Out 14 To Stifle Ponies - Erie SeaWolves
- Rumble Ponies Drop Close Contest to SeaWolves on Saturday - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- July 22, 2023 Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
