Curve erase seven-run deficit and walk off in postseason opener
Win: Montana DuRapau (1-0)
Loss: Andrew Riggs (0-1)
Save: --
TOG: 2:49 (1:46 delay)
Attendance: 2,691
CURVE, Pa. - The Curve rallied from a seven-run deficit and walked off with an 8-7 win over the Bowie Baysox to take the first game of the Western Division Series. Austin Meadows tied the game in the ninth with a two-run homer, and Jacob Stallings came through with the game-winning hit.
With one out and a runner on, Stallings drove in Barrett Barnes with a game-winning single to cap the three-run ninth.
After a single by Max Moroff, Meadows connected on a two-run shot to tie the game against Bowie closer Andrew Triggs (Loss, 0-1).
After the Baysox scored seven runs in the second inning, Stetson Allie brought in a run on a groundout in the fourth to get the Curve on the board. Barnes closed the gap to two with a grand slam home run in the fifth.
Altoona's bullpen held Bowie off the board and struck out seven over 7.1 innings. Montana DuRapu (Win, 1-0) worked the eighth and ninth while allowing just one hit.
The Baysox chased Curve starter Chad Kuhl in the second inning. Ozzie Martinez started the scoring for Bowie with an RBI single that and Garabez Rosa scored on a wild pitch to put Bowie ahead, 2-0. After a two-run double by Glynn Davis, Mike Yastremski padded to the Baysox lead with an RBI single.
With still no outs in the inning, Corban Joseph scored on a fielding error by Curve third baseman Eric Wood. Rosa singled in Yastrzemski to put Bowie ahead, 7-0. After the hit, Kuhl was replaced by reliever John Kuchno, who stranded a pair of runners on base.
Josh Smith worked 1.2 scoreless innings and Brett McKinney pitched through the sixth and seven innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Kuhl lasted 1.2 innings while allowing seven runs (four earned) and striking out two.
Bowie starter Joe Gunkel pitched 4.2 innings and surrendered five earned runs on eight hits and a walk. Reliever Jason Stoffel allowed two hits and struck out three in 2.1 scoreless innings.
Barnes finished the night 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Meadows, Stallings, Moroff, Jose Osuna and Erich Weiss each had two hits.
In their first playoff series since a league championship run in 2010, the win gave the Curve a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five set.
The start of the game was delayed for one hour and 46 minutes for rain.
The Curve and the Baysox play game two on Thursday night at PNG Field. Righty Tyler Eppler takes the mound for the Curve while lefty Nick Addition takes starts for the Baysox.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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