Curve blanked to cap four-game sweep, fifth straight loss

CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve's offensive struggles on Thursday morning in a 2-0 loss to the Akron RubberDucks at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The loss was the fifth straight four the Curve as the RubberDucks completed a four-game sweep.

Altoona (24-20) scattered only four hits throughout the day and matched a season high with three errors on the defensive side. Akron (21-21) starter Thomas Pannone (W, 1-1) threw 6.1 innings and allowed only three hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts.
With a 1-for-4 day, Jordan Luplow extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest active streak on the team.
Akron scored the only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth against Curve starter Brandon Waddell (Loss, 0-2). Tyler Kreiger reached on a single and Yu Chang was hit by a pitch. After Waddell worked a groundout from Bobby Bradley for the second out of the inning, Tate Scioneaux entered the game and allowed a two-run double to Eric Haase.
On the play, Altoona center fielder Elvis Escobar was in place to make a catch for the final out of the inning, but his feet slipped underneath him, causing the ball to fall to the ground.
Waddell finished the day working a season-high 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. 
The Curve's best scoring chance came in the bottom half of the seventh after Jordan Luplow led off with a single and advanced to second on an error by Pannone. A fielder's choice pushed him to third, and a walk put runners on the corners with only one out, but Wyatt Mathisen grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the threat.
Robbie Aviles and Neil Holland (Save, 3) combined to go the rest of the way for the RubberDucks in 2.2 innings only giving up one hit. The Curve bullpen kept the game close with Scioneaux throwing 2.1 scoreless innings and Miguel Rosario tossed a scoreless ninth. 
The Curve travel to Erie to take on the SeaWolves for the first of a four-game set. The SeaWolves will start Artie Lewicki (2-2, 4.54) on the mound while Altoona will throw J.T. Brubaker (2-2, 4.15). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at UPMC Park.
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