EL1 Altoona Curve

Magic Mel's Walk-Off Hit Lifts Curve over 'Dogs

Published on August 14, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - Mel Rojas, Jr. muscled a broken-bat single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the 12th inning to score Alex Dickerson to lift the Curve to a walk-off win over the Portland Sea Dogs, 6-5, on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Altoona prevailed on Wednesday after giving up the lead in the top of the ninth and also tying the game when down in the bottom of the 11th.

The Curve led the game, 4-3, heading to the top of the ninth before the Sea Dogs got a two-out RBI single from J.C. Linares that knotted the game at four and eventually forced extras.

Neither team was able to score in the 10th but Portland did plate an unearned run off reliever Ryan Beckman in the 11th. Once again, Altoona found a way to answer as with one out in the 11th, Alen Hanson smashed his first Double-A homer deep up the bleachers in left field to tie the game once again at five.

Jason Townsend (5-3) pitched a relatively uneventful top of the 12th inning for the Curve before the walk-off heroics in the bottom half. Dickerson led off the bottom of the 12th with a single that scooted into left field before Justin Howard struck out. Jarek Cunningham grounded out to short but Dickerson was able to move to second, which set up Rojas for his walk-off hit.

Altoona's 4-3 lead into the ninth was courtesy of a Gregory Polanco homer in the seventh inning, which was his fourth home run in Double-A and his 10th overall this season. He finished the day 2-for-6 with a pair of RBI and a pair of runs scored.

As a team, the Curve had 15 hits with Dickerson and Howard leading the way with three hits apiece while five total players had multi-hit games. One of those with multi-hits in the game was Adalberto Santos, who ran his on-base streak to 19 games, which tied his own personal best for the season.

Starter Nick Kingham lasted three innings in his first start since August 4 after a nine-batter third inning drove up his pitch count. Altoona's bullpen covered nine of the 12 innings played on Wednesday night with Jhonathan Ramos and Zack Thornton each pitching three innings. Ryan Beckman tossed two frames before Townsend worked the final inning.

The Curve (56-65) will meet Portland (58-64) for the final time in 2013 at 7 p.m. on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Another giveaway in the Curve Party Pack Series will take place at Thursday night's game with the first 500 fans 21+ taking home a Bottle Opener thanks to Bud Light. It's a Thirsty ThursdayTM at the ballpark as well with $2 16oz. Bud Light drafts and half-priced 22oz. sodas on special thanks to Rocky 104.9.

Gates will swing open at 5 p.m. on Thursday with Your Dad's Friends playing pregame on the Rocky Gap Casino Resort Entertainment Deck from 5-6:30 p.m.

RHP David Bromberg (5-9, 3.56) throws for the Curve in the homestand finale and will be opposed by Sea Dogs RHP Terry Doyle (1-4, 4.14). Airtime on ESPN 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information on the remaining Curve home games in 2013, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

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Eastern League Stories from August 14, 2013


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