Ninth Inning Rally Earns Altoona Ninth Win of Season
May 16, 2024 - Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
AKRON, Ohio - Sean Sullivan matched a career-high with seven shutout innings for Altoona as the Curve plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Akron RubberDucks, 4-1, on Thursday night at Canal Park.
With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning, Altoona rallied for three runs to take the lead. After Jase Bowen drew a lead-off walk, Joe Perez lined an RBI-double into left field off Akron reliever Jordan Jones. Two batters later, Carter Bins added an RBI-double of his own before Brenden Dixon tacked on a third RBI-double in the inning for Altoona.
Sullivan matched his career-long outing for the sixth time in his professional career with seven scoreless innings in his start. Sullivan scattered four hits and walked just one batter in his outing, he's walked just 10 batters in 34.2 innings pitched this season. Sullivan has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his seven starts this season and 18-of-his-28 starts in a Curve uniform.
Nick Dombkowski entered in relief for the Curve in the eighth inning, allowing one run to tie the game before earning the win with a scoreless ninth inning. Dombkowski improved to 3-1 in the victory, giving the left-hander a third of Altoona's wins on the season.
Altoona plated the game's first run with three straight hits to begin the sixth inning off Akron right-hander Trey Benton. Kervin Pichardo began the inning with a solid single to right and he moved to third when Francisco Acuna doubled to left. Sammy Siani then blasted a base hit through the right side to take a 1-0 lead. The Curve's chance for a big inning was short-circuited when Bowen hit a hard-line drive to second and Siani was doubled off of first base for the first two outs of the inning. Altoona stranded a pair in the frame when Dustin Peterson struck out to end the inning, one of 13 strikeouts by Akron pitching on Thursday night.
Altoona kept the game at 1-0 in the sixth inning thanks to some brilliant defensive work from Bowen. Akron's Petey Halpin tripled to begin the inning and Christian Cairo followed by lifting a fly ball to right field when Bowen made the catch and delivered a one-hop throw to home that caught Halpin at the plate and maintained the 1-0 lead for Altoona.
With the win, Altoona snaps a streak of 10 consecutive losses to Akron, putting the Curve's record against the RubberDucks at 2-10 this season.
Altoona continues their series with the RubberDucks, Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Bubba Chandler takes the ball for Altoona with RHP Tommy Mace slated to start for the RubberDucks.
For tickets and more information on the 2024 Altoona Curve Season, presented by Stuckey Automotive, 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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