Curve held off late in loss to Binghamton

CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve fell behind early and were held off late in a 4-3 loss to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The Curve (42-40) surrendered four runs in the first three innings to the Rumble Ponies (45-35).
Jerrick Suiter led the Altoona offense, going 3-for-3 with a homer, a walk and two RBIs.
Down 4-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Curve put two runners on base with one out, but Cory Burns (Save, 9) struck out Michael Suchy and got a groundout from pinch-hitter Logan Ratledge to end the game.
Binghamton struck in the first inning against on an RBI single by Matt Oberste against Altoona starter J.T. Brubaker (Loss, 4-4). L.J. Mazzilli added a two-run double in the second to open up a 3-0 lead for the Rumble Ponies.
Suiter hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second, his fifth of the year, to close the gap to 3-1.
The Rumble Ponies answered with an RBI single by Tomás Nido in the third, pulling ahead, 4-1.
In the sixth, Edwin Espinal drove a run-scoring single, picking up his team-leading 53^rd RBI of the year. Suiter followed with an RBI single to close the Curve within a run.
With the bases loaded and one out, Binghamton starter Chris Flexen (Win, 4-1) worked a double play from Wyatt Mathisen to escape the jam and hold the one-run lead.
Brubaker allowed four runs and matched a season high with eight hits allowed over three innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
The Curve bullpen combined for six scoreless innings. Sean Keselica tossed two innings and allowed one hit with two walks and a strikeout. Brandon Cumpton worked around a hit and a walk with a strikeout in his two innings. Miguel Rosario and Jake Brentz each pitched a scoreless frame.
The Curve will conclude their final homestand before the all-star break with the third game of the series on Thursday night. Right-hander Alex McRae (6-4, 3.97) will get the ball for Altoona, with Binghamton knuckleballing right-hander Mickey Jannis (5-3, 4.18) opposing. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
The night features an appearance by the world-famous ZOOperstars. It will also be Thirstday, presented by Q94, with $2 specials on Miller Lite 16 oz. draft beers and regular-size sodas, plus $1 hot dogs.
Tickets are available online at AltoonaCurve.com, by phone at 877.99.CURVE or at the Peoples Natural Gas Field box office.
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