Newman leaves Yard, but Goats top Curve, 10-2
Win: Carlos Hernandez (5-6)
Loss: Tyler Eppler (6-7)
Save: --
TOG: 2:38
Attendance: 227
CURVE, Pa. - Kevin Newman launched his first career Double-A home run but the Altoona Curve surrendered five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a loss to the Hartford Yard Goats, 10-2, on Tuesday evening at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Newman's blast marked the fourth longball he has hit this season between Bradenton and Altoona, and it tied the game for the Curve in the top of the third inning at 1-1.
Altoona (52-42) tied its longest losing streak of the season at four games, having last dropped four straight contests from April 27 - May 1. Hartford (51-42) won its third straight game, the first time the Yard Goats have won three games in a row since June 22-25.
Altoona took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double from Stetson Allie to plate Barrett Barnes.
Hartford tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a Michael Benjamin RBI double, and took the lead for good in the fifth on a Ramiel Tapia RBI double, giving the Yard Goats a 3-2 lead.
The Curve threatened to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Yard Goats starter Carlos Hernandez (Win, 5-6) worked out of the jam to keep Altoona off the scoreboard.
Curve starter Tyler Eppler (Loss, 6-7) allowed a two-run home run to Pat Valaika in the bottom of the seventh to give the Yard Goats a 5-2 lead. Eppler finished his day after 6.2 innings of work, allowing five runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Hartford strung together six consecutive hits to end the seventh and open the eighth against Altoona reliever Jared Lakind, and scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 10-2.
Barnes and Harold Ramirez extended their hitting streaks to eleven games, extending Barnes' best streak of the season and tying Ramirez's mark set from May 8-23.
The Curve and Yard Goats will meet in a Wednesday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Alex McRae (3-4, 8.13) will start the first game for Altoona, and the Curve will face a pair of Yard Goats right-handers in Alex Balog (1-0, 4.70) and Konner Wade (0-2, 5.33). The Curve will be the designated road team for both games. Entrance to the games will be free for the public. For more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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