Jemiola's Gem Lifts Yard Goats To Victory
Altoona- Zach Jemiola threw seven scoreless innings of four-hit baseball and the Hartford Yard Goats held on for a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Altoona Curve, before a crowd of 5,152 Friday night at PNG Field. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for both Hartford (37-28) and Jemiola, who improved to 5-4.
Berlin's Matt Carasiti notched his league-leading 18th save, escaping a bases loaded jam in the eighth and then pitching out of trouble in the ninth inning.
Leading 1-0 in the fifth, the Yard Goats added to their advantage, when Pat Valaika launched a 405 foot-plus home run over the batter's eye in dead centerfield. It was the shortstop's ninth home run of the season.
Raimel Tapia and David Dahl each collected two hits to pace the Hartford attack, while Valaika had two RBI and Rosell Herrara one.
The second game of the series is Saturday night at 6:00 PM. RHP German Marquez (5-4) will pitch for the Yard Goats. The game will be broadcast on News Radio 1410, WPOP.