Broxton Stays Hot in Loss to 'Ducks on Wednesday
AKRON, Ohio - Keon Broxton was 2-for-3 with another three-run homer while Alen Hanson ran his on-base streak to 25 games but both of their efforts weren't enough for the Curve in a, 6-5, loss to Akron on Wednesday night. Willy Garcia notched his 18th outfield assist of the season in the loss, which has tied the franchise record of 18 set by Starling Marte in 2011.
Angel Sanchez and the Curve fell behind early 1-0 before Gift Ngoepe singled home the red-hot Broxton who had tripled earlier in the third third inning. That tied the game at one before Akron came back with two runs (one earned) off Sanchez in the bottom of the third inning to reclaim the lead at, 3-1, with a Bryan LaHair two-run single.
Altoona went ahead in the fourth thanks to a four run barrage that began with Stetson Allie's 18th home run of the season, which turned out to be a solo shot to left in his home state and also extended his on-base streak to 21 games. Now within one run, Andy Vasquez doubled and Garcia singled to place runners at the corners for Broxton. Broxton hammered a three-run homer to left, his second three-run homer of the series (and third overall homer in the series) that flipped the scoreboard in favor of the Curve, 5-3. Broxton now has 14 home runs total in 2014 with five of them coming here in Akron.
That, unfortunately, was the last time the Curve scored on Wednesday night as the 'Ducks used a solo homer from Jake Lowery in the fourth and another solo shot from Anthony Gallas in the fifth to tie the game.
It stayed tied at five until the eighth when LaHair hit a ball to left field that glanced off the glove of Vasquez for a two-base error. Jaime Pedroza, who pinch ran for LaHair, came home to score the deciding run three batters later on a single into no man's land in right by Jordan Smith.
Collin Balester (1-3) was hit with the tough-luck loss after giving up the unearned run in 0.2 innings. It is also the third one-run loss of the road trip and 34th of the season for the Curve.
The Curve (55-75) and RubberDucks (71-59) will play the final game of their season series at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night at Canal Park as the Curve still can win the series with a win. LHP Tom Harlan (3-2, 2.93) will take the ball for the second time on this road trip for the Curve while LHP Shawn Morimando (2-4, 4.12) starts for the 'Ducks
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. The final homestand of the year in Curve, Pa. is August 22-28 with a pair of jersey auctions, an appearance from Craig Adams thanks to Planet Ice & WTAJ-TV, four fireworks shows and our final giveaway of the season. For more information, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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