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Shack Attack! Shackelford’s Two Homers Lead Comeback Win

Kervin Pichardo’s single in the tenth secured an 8-7 win on Opening Day at PNG Field
By Jon Mozes
April 9, 2024

CURVE, PA – Harrisburg built a 7-2 lead after four innings, but Altoona rallied on the strength of a pair of long home runs from Aaron Shackelford and secured an 8-7 walk-off win in ten innings when Kervin Pichardo singled home pinch-runner Francisco Acuna with two outs on Tuesday night

CURVE, PA – Harrisburg built a 7-2 lead after four innings, but Altoona rallied on the strength of a pair of long home runs from Aaron Shackelford and secured an 8-7 walk-off win in ten innings when Kervin Pichardo singled home pinch-runner Francisco Acuna with two outs on Tuesday night at PNG Field.

For the first time this season, Altoona played from ahead with a pair of first inning runs. Matt Fraizer walked to begin the bottom of the first inning and advanced to third on an error by Harrisburg shortstop Brady House. After Jackson Glenn reached on a fielder’s choice to put men at the corners, Glenn was caught in a rundown attempting to steal second, but Harrisburg first baseman Yohandy Morales made an errant throw toward third to plate the game’s first run. Jase Bowen drove in Glenn later in the inning with a solid single to left and take a 2-0 lead for the Curve.

Braxton Ashcraft made his season debut and was touched for four runs in three innings pitched. Ashcraft allowed a pair of homers, a solo homer to Dermis Garcia in the second inning and a three-run shot to Dylan Crews in the third. Ashcraft picked up three strikeouts and did not walk a batter in his outing.

Harrisburg extended their 4-2 lead in the fourth inning with three runs off the Curve bullpen. Justin Meis allowed a solo homer to Dermis Garcia to begin the inning, his second solo shot of the game, and then allowed three hits and a walk after two strikeouts. Harrisburg led 7-2 as Grant Ford entered and extinguished the inning. Ford combined with Brad Case to fire 5.1 scoreless innings of relief to give the Curve a chance to rally back into the game.

Shackelford began the comeback bid for the Curve with a towering three-run homer in the fifth inning. Shackelford’s shot was the first home run hit by the Curve this season. He added a second homer to tie the game in the seventh inning with a long two-run shot. It was Shackelford’s fourth career two-homer game, third as a member of the Curve.

After Isaac Mattson held the Senators scoreless in the top of the tenth, Altoona went to work to play for one run in the bottom half. Dylan Shockley sacrificed the placed runner at second base to third with a perfect bunt back to the mound and after Tres Gonzalez grounded out, Pichardo lined a 2-1 offering into left field to bring home the game winning run. It is the second extra-inning win for the Curve in the first four games to begin the season.

Altoona and Harrisburg continue their series on Wednesday night at PNG Field. RHP Po-Yu Chen is slated to start for Altoona with RHP Michael Cuevas on the mound for the Senators. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. with fans taking home a 2024 Magnet Schedule, presented by Bolger Brothers.

For tickets and more information on the 2024 Altoona Curve Season, presented by Stuckey Automotive, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.