Marvel Spins Gem in Second Straight Win over Fisher Cats
August 15, 2018 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - James Marvel backed up a strong Double-A debut with seven innings of one-run ball on Wednesday as the Altoona Curve held off a late charge by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 3-2, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
With the win, the Curve (65-53) are 12 games over .500 for the first time since the close of the 2016 season and have clinched a winning record in the season series with the Fisher Cats (67-50).
Jin-De Jhang set Marvel (Win, 1-1) up for the winning decision when he broke a 1-1 tie on a two-run double down the right field line in the top of the seventh. Jhang's knock made the Fisher Cats pay for back-to-back walks out of the bullpen by reliever Kirby Snead (Loss, 3-4).
Max Pentecost hit a two-out solo homer off Sean Keselica in the eighth to pull the Fisher Cats within one and the Curve lefty was removed after he walked the next two batters. Matt Eckelman (Save, 8) took over and allowed a single to short by Connor Panas, but Cole Tucker kept the ball in the infield and threw out Forrest Wall trying to score the tying run from second base.
In his second Double-A start, Marvel sat down the first 11 batters he faced until New Hampshire had their first baserunner. Marvel struck out Harold Ramirez with two outs in the fourth but the pitch got far enough away from catcher Arden Pabst to allow Ramirez to reach first.
The Fisher Cats did not get their first hit until the fifth inning on a double by Wall. New Hampshire recorded a total of four hits against Marvel, including an RBI single by Panas in the fifth to plate Wall. The Fisher Cats attempted to squeeze home Panas from third during the fifth but Marvel fielded and flipped the bunt by Andrew Guillot back to the plate where the runner was tagged out by Pabst.
Jordan George put the Curve on the board in the third on a lead-off, solo homer that hugged the foul pole before leaving the yard. New Hampshire starter Hector Perez had faced the minimum prior to George's blast and proceeded to retire 12 in a row to conclude his outing after six innings.
Ke'Bryan Hayes extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the first inning and accounted for one of four Curve hits. Bryan Reynolds went 0-for-3 with a walk to end his hitting streak at nine games while pushing his on-base streak to 10 games.
The Curve seek a sweep of the Fisher Cats on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. with right-hander Eduardo Vera (6-3, 4.48) taking the mound for Altoona against New Hampshire starter T.J. Zeuch (8-4, 3.12).
After an eight-game road trip, the Curve return home for the final homestand of the regular season and welcome the Harrisburg Senators, Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, for two games beginning on Wednesday, August 22. For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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