Martin's Late Mash Tips the Scale for Altoona
July 20, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Mason Martin matched his career high with three walks and cracked his 15th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Curve which proved to be a key insurance run as Altoona defeated Reading, 4-3, at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday night.
Altoona fell behind early in the contest 2-0 after Reading scored a run two batters into the game off Curve starter Beau Sulser. Matthew Kroon hit a lead-off double and advanced to third on a Matt Fraizer error. He scored in the next at-bat when Sulser threw away a ball to first hit by Carlos De La Cruz to make it 1-0. Sulser gave up a home run to Cody Roberts in the second inning to allow two runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of work.
Nick Dombkowski earned the win after spinning 4.0 shutout innings of relief following Sulser. Dombkowski gave up just three hits and walked one to go with one strikeout. Since June 1, Dombkowski is 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP in nine appearances and three starts.
Altoona's offense was kept in check by Phillies No. 2 prospect Mick Abel over the first five innings, managing just two hits and three walks with no runs off Reading's starter. The Curve scratched across three runs off reliever Carlos Francisco in the sixth inning. Domingo Leyba knocked an RBI-double to score Fraizer and later came across on an RBI-single by Abrahan Gutierrez. Tsung-Che Cheng added an RBI-single later in the frame for the Curve.
Braeden Ogle tossed a scoreless eighth inning for Altoona before Cam Junker earned his first save of the season in the ninth. He allowed one unearned run after Martin made an error in left field to allow a run to score. It was the first appearance for Martin in the outfield since 2017 in his first season of professional baseball. Martin moved from first to left when Matt Gorski left the game with an injury in the eighth inning.
Cheng finished the game with three hits, while Leyba had two hits and a walk. It was the second win on the series for the Curve, wo improved to 7-8, 41-42 with the win.
Altoona continues their six-game set with Reading on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. The Curve send LHP Anthony Solometo to the mound with RHP Griff MCGarry slated to start for the Fightin Phils. Friday night is Roberto Clemente night at PNG Field, where the Curve will retire Clemente's No. 21 jersey in a special pregame ceremony at 5:45 with members of the Clemente family on hand for the celebration. 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 20, 2023
- Hardman's Homer Heroics Wreak Havoc in Extra Innings Win Over Hartford - Somerset Patriots
- Williams Dazzles, Beck Homers in Third Straight Game, But Yard Goats Fall in Extras - Hartford Yard Goats
- Senators Win Over Baysox, 10-3 - Harrisburg Senators
- Erie Loses Early Lead in Second Straight Loss - Erie SeaWolves
- Fifth Inning Rally and Rain Helps Richmond to 3-2 Win Over Akron in 5 - Akron RubberDucks
- Bowie Strands Nine as Winning Streak Is Halted by Harrisburg - Chesapeake Baysox
- Ponies Grab Lead Late to Defeat SeaWolves on Thursday - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Martin's Late Mash Tips the Scale for Altoona - Altoona Curve
- Abel Sharp as Curve Come from Behind to Beat Reading - Reading Fightin Phils
- Thomas' Go-Ahead Single Completes Comeback in Rain-Shortened Win - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Yankees Schedule MLB Rehab Assignment for OF Willie Calhoun with Double-A Somerset - Somerset Patriots
- Kwiatkowski Tosses Three Scoreless Innings in 7-4 Loss - Portland Sea Dogs
- July 20, 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.
