Ready Rojas: Mel Hits Walk Off
Curve, Pa.- The Altoona Curve snagged their third walk off win of the season on Wednesday afternoon in the 6-5 win versus Bowie at Peoples Natural Gas Field. With runners on second and first, Mel Rojas, Jr. hit a single through the hole and into right field that scored Andy Vasquez to give the Curve their 13th win of the season.
The Curve plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Keon Broxton led off the game with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The swift-footed left fielder scored from second with one-out when Jarek Cunningham hit a sacrifice fly to left center.
The lead didn't last long for the Curve. In the top of the fifth, Bowie tied the game at one with an infield single by Christian Walker that scored K.D. Kang.
In the fifth, Altoona reclaimed the lead. After Drew Maggi drew a two-out walk and stole second, Rojas blasted his second home run of the year to give the Curve a 3-1 advantage.
That 3-1 lead for the Curve was trimmed down to one in the sixth inning. With two outs, Altoona's defense dropped a fly ball that would have ended the inning but instead, it allowed Bowie's Garabez Rosa to score from second.
In the sixth, Altoona added two more runs to take a 5-2 lead. Broxton hit a leadoff triple to center field and scored two batters later when Cunningham collected his second RBI from his first hit of the game, a triple to center field. Cunningham scored one batter later when Ralph Henriquez hit into a fielder's choice.
Once again, Altoona's pitching failed to hold onto the lead. In the seventh inning Bowie scored two runs and cut the Curve lead down to 5-4 thanks to a pair of wild pitches by Altoona's relievers. Then, in the eighth, Ronald Bermudez hit a solo home run that tied the game at five.
Altoona snared the win in the ninth. Vasquez led off the inning with a single that straddled the third base line and stayed fair then stole second. After Maggi walked for the fourth time in the game, Rojas hit an 0-2 pitch to right for the third walk off of the year.
Joely Rodriguez started for Altoona and tossed five innings with run on six hits while walking two and striking out a pair. Quinton Miller (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Fabio Castillo (0-1) took the loss for the Baysox.
Altoona's (13-18) victory over Bowie (16-16) was the second series win by Altoona this season. The Curve will embark on a six-game road trip that begins Thursday with a three-game set against the Akron RubberDucks. After an off-day Monday, Altoona will finish the road trip with a three-game series in Binghamton beginning on Tuesday.
The first game in Akron will begin at 6:35 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
RHP Adrian Sampson (3-2, 1.53) will open the Akron series and square off against the 'Ducks' RHP Gabriel Arias (3-2, 3.75).
Altoona will return to Peoples Natural Gas Field on Friday, May 16 for a seven-game homestand. The Curve will start a six-game homestand against the Richmond Flying Squirrels for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch and postgame fireworks for the fans. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCuve.com, call 877.99.CURVE, or stop by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field.