Late Altoona Runs Push Curve to Third-Straight Win

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – With the game tied at six in the ninth inning, Jared Triolo and Endy Rodriguez knocked RBI singles as the Curve rallied to defeat the Rumble Ponies, 8-6, on Thursday night at Mirabito Stadium.

After Altoona jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the sixth inning, Binghamton scored four unanswered runs across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to tie the ball game. Cristofer Melendez entered the game for the Curve in the sixth and walked the lead-off batter Nic Gaddis. Two batters later, Gaddis scored on a Zach Ashford single paired with a throwing error by Melendez. He would eventually walk two straight batters later in the frame to bring Brad Case into the contest. Case issued a bases-loaded walk as a second run crossed in the inning.

Hayden Senger hit a solo home run off Case in the seventh inning to make it a one-run game. Then in the eighth, with the tying runner on third base, Ronny Mauricio struck out swinging against Colin Selby, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach first, and the tying run scored. Selby allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings to earn the win.

In the ninth inning, Matt Fraizer drew a walk and stole second base, one of a season-high six stolen bases in the game for the Curve. Triolo then lined a single into left field to score Fraizer and advanced to second. Two batters later, Rodriguez scored Triolo with a single of his own to put the game out of reach for Altoona.

The Curve scored three runs in the top of the first inning off Binghamton starter Tony Dibrell. Triolo hit a lead-off double to open the game and Rodriguez drew a walk two batters later. Blake Sabol then tripled to clear the bases and give Altoona a 2-0 lead. Malcom Nuñez followed by singling home Sabol to extend the Curve lead.

Fraizer would add a run for the Curve with an RBI-single in the fourth inning to score Liover Peguero. Aaron Shackelford smashed a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his fourth two-run shot in the last four games. He now has 22 home runs on the season, tied for fifth in the Eastern League.

Quinn Priester put together a strong start for the Curve. In five innings, he allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts, matching a season high. He allowed a run in each of the first two innings on a Rowdey Jordan home run in the first and a Matt Winaker RBI-double in the second.

Peguero recorded his fourth-straight two-hit game in the win. Sabol and Triolo also each finished with two hits for the Curve. Curve pitchers struck out 13 batters in the win, while Altoona managed 10 hits.

The Curve continue a six-game series with Binghamton on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The Curve are yet to announce a starter, but RHP Jose Chacin will take the mound for Binghamton.

The Curve return home on August 16th for a six-game series with the Harrisburg Senators. For tickets and more information about Curve Baseball, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.

A clutch base hit from @JaredTriolo gives us the lead in the ninth inning!! pic.twitter.com/KiAJlnDfqB

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 12, 2022