Walk-Off Walk Wins It For Curve Yet Again
Win: John Kuchno (3-2)
Loss: Jeff Johnson (0-1)
Save: --
TOG: 2:56
Attendance: 2,464
CURVE, Pa. - Josh Bell's walk-off walk in the ninth inning allowed the Curve to grab a, 5-4, win over the Akron RubberDucks Thursday night to extend the team winning streak to five games. It's the second five-game winning streak of the year for the Curve. The walk-off walk comes nearly a month after the team won its game on Opening Night (April 16) versus Akron on a walk-off walk in the 11th inning.
After a back-and-forth game saw the two teams tied at four headed to the bottom of the ninth, the Curve began their rally. Dan Gamache got the party going with a single with one away. A pair of walks to Gift Ngoepe and Keon Broxton by reliever Jeff Johnson (0-1) loaded up the bases with just one out.
Johnson battled Max Moroff to a 3-2 count and on the 11th pitch of the at bat, Moroff looked at a call third strike for the inning's second out. Johnson then battled Bell to a 3-2 count before Bell walked to allow Gamache to score the winning run.
While he didn't get on base in the ninth, Moroff did draw a walk earlier in the game to run his on-base streak to 29 games. That total is four shy of the franchise-record of 33 set by Ronny Paulino in 2004.
Altoona (21-11) had to play from behind in the first. Akron's Erik Gonzalez drove in Todd Hankins, to give the RubberDucks a 1-0 lead. The 'Ducks (14-20) lead quickly diminished. Bell tied the game was an RBI single that allowed Broxton to score. Stetson Allie's two-run bomb, which was his sixth homer of the year, gave Altoona a 3-1 lead.
Both starting pitchers settled in after having rough first innings. Curve starter Jason Creasy went 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. 'Ducks starting pitcher Cody Anderson also went 6.0 innings, allowing six hits, and three runs.
John Kuchno (3-2) tossed three innings of one-run ball and grabbed the victory as the Curve were able to withstand a solid day at the plate from Akron's Todd Hankins. Hankins was 4-for-5 and homered twice, one of which tied the game in the eighth.
All four Curve wins on this homestand have been in come-from-behind fashion.
Altoona and Akron continue the series Friday night at 6 p.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The first 1,500 fans on Friday will receive a Starling Marte Partay Bobblehead thanks to Peoples and WTAJ-TV. After the game, kids can run the bases.
Starting for the Curve will be the southpaw Zack Dodson (1-1, 2.17), who searches for his second win of the season. The 'Ducks will send lefty Ryan Merritt (2-2, 4.26) to the hill in game two.
Gates open at 5 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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