The Erie SeaWolves (42-47) edged the Altoona Curve (46-40) in an 11-inning showdown in game one of the doubleheader after Jake Rogers took ball four with the bases loaded to end the game at 8-7.A.J. Simcox started the scoring for Erie on a solo home run in the third inning
The Erie SeaWolves (42-47) edged the Altoona Curve (46-40) in an 11-inning showdown in game one of the doubleheader after Jake Rogers took ball four with the bases loaded to end the game at 8-7.
A.J. Simcox started the scoring for Erie on a solo home run in the third inning on Cam Vieaux, his second long ball of the season.
Will Maddox added to the SeaWolves' lead in the fourth inning. After Josh Lester blasted a lead-off single, the second baseman cranked his third home run of the season over the right field wall to make it 3-0 Erie.
Altoona fought back to snatch the lead in the sixth with a four-run inning on A.J. Ladwig. The righty surrendered a lead-off long ball to Cole Tucker to give the Curve their first run. Ladwig retired Stephen Alemais, but Bryan Reynolds answered with a one-out double. Ladwig walked Will Craig, giving Jordan George a chance to double home Reynolds and push Craig to third. Mark Ecker then replaced Ladwig, who promptly surrendered a sac fly to center from Logan Hill. Bralin Jackson singled home George, capping off a four-run sixth inning to propel Altoona ahead 4-3.
Ecker stayed in for Erie in the top of the seventh and allowed another Curve run on a wild pitch, giving Cole Tucker a chance to elevate the lead to 5-3.
The SeaWolves rallied on Altoona reliever Geoff Hartlieb to knot up the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh. Hartlieb walked both Danny Woodrow and Simcox to put two aboard with no outs. Alcantara smacked his third hit of the ball game, and his single let Simcox gallop in to score. With runners on the corners, Daz Cameron grounded into a double play but it was enough to bring Woodrow home to tie it.
Altoona did not waste any time to take the lead back in extra innings. Logan Hill knocked in the free runner in Will Craig on a single, giving the Curve the 6-5 advantage in the eigth.
With two outs in the home half of the eighth, Danny Woodrow knotted up the game at 6-6 on an RBI-single to score Jake Rogers on Sean Keselica. Sergio Alcántara flew out to right field, and the game headed into the ninth inning.
Altoona gained the lead back in the top of the 11th inning on a Logan Hill single. The designated hitter lifted a sharply hit ball down the line on Caleb Thielbar, breaking the Curve ahead 7-6.
Erie managed to even the score up again in the bottom of the 11th inning. Alcantara racked up his fourth hit of the game on an RBI-single on Yeudy Garcia to push Woodrow home. Cameron followed with a single of his own, then Lester walked to load the bases. Garcia failed to corral the pitches in the zone, and allowed a walk-off walk to Jake Rogers to give Erie the 8-7 win.
Caleb Thielbar (2-0) earned the win after working two innings, surrendering one unearned run, and striking out one. Garcia (1-4) took the loss after surrendering two runs, one earned on two walks and two hits in the final two innings.
