Big Innings Bite Curve in Loss to Baysox
CURVE, Pa. - A strong early going didn't last for rehabbing Pirates lefty Wandy Rodriguez as he and the Curve were unable to overcome a seven-run fourth inning in an, 11-7, loss to the Bowie Baysox on Tuesday night. Rodriguez (0-1) finished a total of 5.1 innings on Tuesday and allowed seven runs (all earned) on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
The rehabbing lefty breezed through the first three innings on Tuesday, going nine-up, nine-down through the Baysox order on just 27 pitches (23 for strikes). While Rodriguez was working through the Baysox lineup, the Curve scored first in the bottom of the third off eventual winner Tyler Wilson (5-1). Willy Garcia walked to start the inning and after Keon Broxton lined out to left, Drew Maggi singled to right center. Garcia went first to third and Maggi moved up to second on the throw.
With two on and one out, Gift Ngoepe hit a ball towards short that Niuman Romero couldn't handle and was charged with the error. Garcia touched home to plate the first run of the game while Ngoepe stood on first. Alen Hanson followed and hit a fielder's choice that allowed Maggi to score to place Altoona in front, 2-0.
That lead was short-lived as Rodriguez's hot start came to a halt in the fourth. Bowie scored seven times with six of the runs coming on a pair of three-run homers (one by Christian Walker and one by K.D. Kong). Kong's homer came after a throwing error by Ngoepe allowed the inning to continue but all runs remained earned to Rodriguez.
Altoona made it close, answering right back with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to cut the deficit to two. That's where the game stayed until the Baysox turned in a four-run top of the eighth to widen the lead. Andy Vasquez belted his third homer of the year, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the eighth but the Curve scored no further on Tuesday.
The Curve (12-18) and Bowie (16-15) will meet in the rubber match of the series at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at Peoples Natural Gas Field on an Education Day. Wednesday is also a 4-Pack Wednesday presented by WALY 103.9 with four tickets, four hot dogs and four regular sodas all for $35. Fans can also show their M&T Bank card for Wednesday games and get $2 off tickets on M&T Bank Customer Appreciation Wednesdays.
On the bump for the Curve in the finale will be southpaw Joely Rodriguez (1-3, 5.92), who was bumped from his start on Tuesday with the rehab start for Wandy Rodriguez. Joely will be opposed by Baysox lefty Tim Berry (1-1, 4.24) on Wednesday.
Gates will swing open at 9:30 a.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 10 a.m. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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