Curve Big Bats Drop Yard Goats
Final: Altoona 16, Hartford 0 WP: Kyle Nicolas (2-5) LP: Nick Garcia (0-3) S: None Altoona, PA- The Altoona Curve blasted four home runs, including two by Andres Alvarez who also added 6 RBI, and defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 16-0 on Thursday evening at People’s Natural Gas Field in
*Final: Altoona 16, Hartford 0 *
WP: Kyle Nicolas (2-5)
LP: Nick Garcia (0-3)
S: None
Altoona, PA- The Altoona Curve blasted four home runs, including two by Andres Alvarez who also added 6 RBI, and defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 16-0 on Thursday evening at People’s Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Pirates affiliate scored three runs in the fourth inning, five runs in the fifth inning, and six runs in the eighth inning to send Hartford to its season-high sixth consecutive loss. Grant Lavigne and Niko Decolati each had a pair of hits for the Yard Goats.
Altoona scored two runs in the first inning off Yard Goats starter Nick Garcia. The right-hander retired the first batter of the game, but then walked Matt Fraizer before giving up three consecutive singles, including RBI hits by Mason Martin and Matt Gorski to make it 2-0. Garcia retired the next eight batters with five strikeouts over the next three innings.
The Curve loaded the bases in the fourth inning on three walks. A double play grounder would allow Altoona to take a 3-0 lead, and later in the inning Claudio Finol belted a two-run home run to make it 5-0.
The Curve scored five runs in the fifth inning off reliever Dylan Spain, highlighted by a three-run homer by Mason Martin, and a two-run homer by Andres Alvarez. It was 10-0 after five innings.
Yard Goats righty Mike Ruff fired 2.1 scoreless innings in his first relief outing of the season. The Curve added six more runs in the eighth inning, and Andres Alvarez connected on his second homer of the game, a grand slam to make it 16-0.
The Yard Goats continue their two-city 12-game road trip on Friday night at 6:00, and play the fourth of a six-game series against the Altoona Curve. RHP Case Williams will start for the Yard Goats. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP, FM 100.9 and the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return home to Dunkin’ Park on Tuesday, June 6th (7:10 PM), and host the New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, for a six-game series.