Escobar knocks three hits, Barnes logs three RBI in Curve defeat
Win: Kurt Spomer (2-1)
Loss: Tyler Eppler (1-7)
Save: Paul Voelker (12)
TOG: 2:59
Attendance: 5,567
CURVE, Pa. - Elvis Escobar recorded a hit in each of his first three at-bats and Barrett Barnes drove in three runs but the Altoona Curve fell to the Erie SeaWolves, 7-6, on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Escobar scored the first run of the game for Altoona on an Edwin Espinal sacrifice fly in the first inning and Barnes continued his tear by knocking a two-run double in the same frame as the Curve took a 3-1 lead after the first.
Altoona (71-60) saw its eight-game winning streak against Erie (57-75) come to a close while the SeaWolves won their eighth game over the last eleven played.
The SeaWolves tied the game at 3-3 in the second inning on back-to-back RBI singles from Kody Eaves and Harold Castro and Corey Jones led off the third with a solo home run to give Erie a 4-3 lead.
Kevin Newman smacked a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth to put the Curve back ahead at 5-4, but the SeaWolves scored two runs in the sixth inning against Tyler Eppler (Loss, 8-10) to take the lead for good at 6-5.
Eppler departed after 5.2 innings of work, allowing six runs and surrendering a new career-worst twelve hits while also striking out two.
Gustavo Nunez made it a 7-5 game in the seventh inning with his second RBI of the night against Jhondaniel Medina, but Altoona came within a run in the bottom of the seventh when Anderson Feliz scored from first on a throwing error by Erie reliever Adam Ravanelle to bring the Curve within 6-5.
The Curve got a single in each the eighth and ninth innings, but could not tie the game as Paul Voelker (Save, 12) shut the Curve down in the ninth.
Escobar recorded his third three-hit game since joining the Curve on August 3. Barnes has recorded eight RBI over his last five games, dating back to Sunday in New Hampshire.
The Curve and SeaWolves continue their four-game series on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Right-hander Alex McRae (7-6, 5.38) gets the start for the Curve, opposing SeaWolves southpaw Tyler Alexander (1-1, 3.57). Saturday is Pro Wrestling Night at PNG Field, with an appearance by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley and a post-game wrestling match. There will also be a spectacular post-game fireworks show. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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