Castro's Blast Secures Slugfest at PNG Field

CURVE, PA – Rodolfo Castro broke a 13-13 tie in the eighth inning with his fourth home run in the last four games to lead the Curve to a 14-13 victory over the Akron RubberDucks on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The Curve led 5-2 after one inning, 7-6 after four innings and 13-11 after six innings, but were not able to keep the RubberDucks offense down on Wednesday night. Akron had a season-high 17 hits, with four different players picking up at least three hits, and went 11-for-23 with runners in scoring position.

Castro went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in, in his last five games he is batting .566 (13-for-23) with two doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI.

Oneil Cruz went 2-for-3 with a home run and two walks in the victory. Cruz’s sixth home run of the season came in the fourth inning, a solo shot off The Skyliner Rollercoaster, and gave the Curve a 7-6 lead at the time.

Mason Martin, Brendt Citta and Cal Mitchell both had two-hit days as well. Mitchell drove in four including two on his first triple of the season which helped the Curve rally from an 11-7 deficit in the sixth inning. The six-run sixth for Altoona was the most runs scored in an inning by the Curve this season.

Right-hander Travis MacGregor made the start and lasted just 1.2 innings pitched, allowing six runs on six hits and matching a career-high with four walks. Brad Case followed MacGregor with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, matching a season-long performance out of the bullpen. Will Gardner was touched for five runs and recorded just one out in the top of the sixth inning and Cam Alldred followed him with 1.1 innings on the mound.

Shea Murray finished off the victory for the Curve with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, earning his first win of the season. Murray danced around trouble in the eighth inning, stranding two in scoring position, and retired the side in order in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts.

The Curve continue their six-game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Noe Toribio (1-1, 4.03) will make his sixth start of the season for Altoona, Richmond will start RHP Shane McCarthy (0-1, 4.64).

Thursday night is THIRSTday where fans can purchase $2 select Yuengling drafts, 22oz soft drinks and $1 Juniata Brand by Kunzler hot dogs, presented by Q94.

For tickets or more information about Curve Baseball, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.