Robles, Marvel dominate 'Ducks in double-header sweep

CURVE, Pa. -- The Altoona Curve limited the Akron RubberDucks to one run in a double-header sweep, winning 6-0 and 2-1, on Saturday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Domingo Robles (Win, 1-1) fired a complete-game shutout in the opener before James Marvel (Win, 5-5) came one out shy of going the distance himself in the night cap. After the Curve (29-30) cruised to a win in the first contest, they used a last at-bat rally to beat the RubberDucks (31-30) and finish the sweep.

Robles dominated from the start in the first game, holding the 'Ducks to four hits and three strikeouts without a walk in his first Double-A win. After he allowed a lead-off single to Alex Call in the second inning, the southpaw retired the next 15 batters in order. Ka'ai Tom's leadoff single in the seventh broke the streak but three batters later, Robles rolled a game-ending, 5-4-3 double play.
The Curve gave Robles early run support when Logan Hill broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third off 'Ducks starter Evan Mitchell (Loss, 0-1). Altoona filled the base for Hill on a bunt single, a walk and another bunt single to set up his bases-clearing triple into the right-center gap to put the Curve ahead, 3-0.
Altoona doubled its lead with three more runs in the fourth, which included a sac fly from Mitchell Tolman and a bases-loaded walk to Hill. A wild pitch produced the third run of the inning to make it a 6-0 game.

Hill finished the first game with four RBIs and reached base safely three times. Ryan Peurifoy , who also reached safely three times, hit a single, walked twice and scored two runs.
Marvel gave the bullpen a rest as well in the second game and worked around nine hits and four walks to hold Akron to one run in 6.2 innings. He benefitted from four doubles play by his defense over the first four innings, including an inning-ending 9-3-5 double play that helped Marvel escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first.
Marvel fell one out shy of his second complete game of the season. With the Curve ahead, 2-1, in the seventh, Blake Weiman (Save, 2) struck out Wilson Garcia with the bases loaded to close out the one-run win.
The Curve trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the sixth when the offense delivered a two-run rally. Bralin Jackson lined a leadoff single to right, Alfredo Reyes followed with a sacrifice bunt that pushed Jackson to second, and Jared Oliva tied the game with an RBI double to right-center. Tolman, the next batter, lined the go-ahead, RBI single into right as the Curve took a 2-1 lead off 'Ducks reliever Jared Robinson (Loss, 0-1).
The Curve completed their 15th comeback win of the season after being held hitless through the first five innings. Akron starter David Speer retired the first 11 batters of the game before his two-out walk to Jerrick Suiter in the fourth stood as the Curve's only baserunner until the sixth.
Oliva went 3-for-7 with three runs scored on the day and has hit safely in six straight games while Hunter Owen , who went hitless in the two games, saw his hitting streak end at 10 games.
The Curve and RubberDucks wrap up their four-game series on Sunday at 6 p.m. The Curve turn to right-hander Pedro Vasquez (4-1, 2.92) while the 'Ducks will counter with left-hander Tanner Tully (5-4, 3.92).
Gates for the series finale will open to fans at 5 p.m. It's another Richey's Dairy Kids' Club game, free to kids ages 3-12. The game features an appearance from Pikachu and the night will ends with post-game FIREWORKS set to a Matchbox 20 theme, presented by Ferrer Beverage, Beck's Maintenance & PA Cyber Charter School.
-CURVE-