Samaniego Holds Off Late Rumble Ponies Rally in Saturday Win
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – With the game-tying run on third base and game-winning run on first in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tyler Samaniego entered the contest and recorded the final out for Altoona as the Curve clinched a series victory in Binghamton with a 3-2 win at Mirabito Stadium
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – With the game-tying run on third base and game-winning run on first in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tyler Samaniego entered the contest and recorded the final out for Altoona as the Curve clinched a series victory in Binghamton with a 3-2 win at Mirabito Stadium on Saturday night.
Holding a 3-1 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, Tahnaj Thomas entered for the Curve. After striking out the first batter, he issued a walk to Jeremy Vasquez before Matt Winaker singled to move him to third. A passed ball on Blake Sabol put two in scoring position as Wyatt Young singled home a run, putting runners on the corners.
Thomas worked a second strikeout before giving way to Samaniego, who got a groundout on his first batter faced to end the game. It was the ninth save of the year in Double-A for Samaniego, tied for fifth in the Eastern League.
Malcom Nuñez had his best offensive game for Altoona in the win. In the first inning, he lifted a sacrifice fly to score Nick Gonzalez, who was hit by a pitch. Later in the sixth, he launched his first home run in a Curve uniform to center field to make it a 2-1 game. It was the 18th home run of the season for Nuñez, who finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI.
The Curve scored a much-needed insurance run in the eighth inning. Sabol was hit by a pitch to open the frame and moved to second on a Nuñez single. Liover Peguero moved both base runners on a fly out and Sabol would score on a wild pitch from Grant Hartwig in the next at-bat.
Aaron Shortridge earned the win for Altoona, going five innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits with four strikeouts. J.C. Flowers delivered three scoreless innings of relief, striking out four batters.
Andres Alvarez had two hits in the win for the Curve. It is the first series win for Altoona since taking four games from Richmond July 12-17.
The Curve finish the six-game series with Binghamton on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Curve send RHP Luis Ortiz to the mound, with Binghamton tossing RHP Alex Valverde.
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.
Malcom Nuñez has his first home run with the Curve as we take a 2-1 lead in the sixth!
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 14, 2022
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