TRENTON, N.J. - The Altoona Curve were held to just two hits and lost to the Trenton Thunder, 4-2, on Friday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.
TRENTON, N.J. - The Altoona Curve were held to just two hits and lost to the Trenton Thunder, 4-2, on Friday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.
The Curve (57-53) scored their only two runs in the eighth inning as they dropped the series opener against the Thunder (74-36).
Trenton opened the scoring in the second inning. With the bases loaded and no one out, Jorge Saez hit a sac fly to bring across the first run, but Curve starter Austin Coley (Loss, 4-3) worked out of the jam without allowing another run.
Mike Ford hit a solo homer to lead off the fourth to extend Trenton's lead to 2-0. IN the sixth, the Thunder again loaded the bases with no outs, and they scored a run on a double-play groundout by Zack Zehner. Coley again worked out of the jam with the one run allowed.
Coley pitched six innings and tied a career high with ten hits allowed, holding the Thunder to three runs with no walks and four strikeouts.
The Curve broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on second and third with no outs, Elvis Escobar grounded out to first, bringing Jordan George across the plate to break the shutout. Michael Suchy scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to close the Curve back within a run at 3-2.
The Thunder responded with another run in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan McBroom added insurance with an RBI single to bring around Thairo Estrada.
Trenton reliever Colton Brewer (Save, 8) struck out the side in order in the ninth to close out the Curve.
Trenton starter Will Carter (Win, 2-0) did not allow a hit until a two-out single by Michael Suchy in the bottom of the fifth. He finished his night with five innings pitched, allowing the one hit with two walks and two strikeouts.
Altoona reliever Tanner Anderson pitched two innings and allowed one unearned run.
The Curve and Thunder continue the series on Saturday night. Lefty Brandon Waddell (1-2, 4.41) will start on the mound for Altoona, opposed by Trenton right-hander Domingo Acevedo (3-0, 2.24). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at ARM & HAMMER Park.
-CURVE-
