Altoona falls behind early, cannot catch up to 'Ducks

CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve recorded a season-low two hits and dropped their fourth straight game, losing to the Akron RubberDucks, 3-2, on Wednesday in front of a crowd of 6,556 on School Kids' Education Day at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Altoona (24-19) got to within one run in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by Jackson WIlliams, but fell in game three to Akron (20-21), and will look to avoid the sweep on Thursday. The Curve have scored a combined seven runs in their last four games and are now 5-7 against Akron in 2017.
The RubberDucks struck for three runs in the first inning off of Curve starter Alex McRae (Loss, 3-1). Akron's first five hitters all reached, with Bobby Bradley driving in a pair of runs with a two-run single and Mike Papi also bringing home a run with a single for an early 3-0 lead.
Altoona narrowed the gap in the fifth inning, making it a 3-2 game. After Jordan Luplow led off the frame by extending his season-long hitting streak to ten games, Elvis Escobar drove him in with an RBI triple. Williams followed with an RBI groundout.
After the first inning, McRae settled in to retire 12 straight and allowed just two hits the rest of the way. He finished with seven innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out five. Jared Lakind pitched two scoreless innings in relief and struck out three.
Akron starter Julian Merryweather (Win, 4-2), pitched eight innings and allowed just two earned runs on two hits while striking out four. Mitch Brown (Save, 2) closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two.
Altoona will conclude the homestand on Thursday against Akron with the series finale in game four. The Curve will send left-hander Brandon Waddell  (0-1, 4.70) to the mound, while Akron will counter with left-hander Thomas Pannone (0-1, 4.09). First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
It will be Thirstday, presented by Q94, with $2 specials on Miller Lite 16 oz. draft beers & regular-size sodas and $1 hot dogs. Thursday will also be a special 10:30 a.m. start time for School Kids' Education Day, presented by Subway.
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