Curve Crumble as Phillies Walk Off With Win
Win: Justin Friend (1-3)
Loss: Michael Dubee (2-6)
Save: --
Attendance: 9,506
TOG: 3:07
READING, Pa. - The Altoona Curve led 6-2 heading into the eighth inning but allowed five runs, including four runs in the ninth, to fall on a walk off single by Fidel Hernandez by the score of 7-6 on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Heading into the ninth inning leading by three, Michael Dubee hoped to avoid the same fate he suffered in his most recent outing to Saturday, but he ended up allowing four runs on five hits as he was handed his sixth loss of the season.
The first two batters in the ninth singled before the first out was recorded on a fly ball to right field. Still leading 6-3, Dubee allowed a double to Steve Singleton to score two runs to cut the lead to 6-5 before recording the second out of the inning on a strikeout. With two down and a runner on second, Brent Clevlen doubled to tie the game before a bloop single by Hernandez sent the home crowd home happy for the win.
For the second straight night, the Phillies jump out to an early lead off Matt McSwain, making his first start of the season for the Curve in his 29th appearance. On three hits and two walks, the R-Phils grabbed two runs in the first to get the scoring started.
After a scoreless second, Phillies starter BJ Rosenberg missed the strike zone with his first eight pitches of the third inning, walking Yunesky Sanchez and Greg Picart before a sacrifice bunt pushed the runners into scoring position. The next batter, Starling Marte, continued his success this season against Rosenberg, as he is now 4-for-6 this season against him, with a three run blast over the wall in left-center to take a 3-2 lead.
The Curve extended their lead in the fifth inning as Marte tripled to the corner in right and scored as Brock Holt hit a ball off the pitcher's glove and trickled into right field. Holt raced around first to reach second on the play. With Holt on second, the second out was recorded before Andrew Lambo hit a bomb over the wall in right to extend the lead to 6-2.
McSwain had his day ended after the fifth inning and he did a tremendous job in his first start of the year. After allowing two in the first, McSwain worked four scoreless innings to end his outing. All told he allowed only two runs on five hits with one strikeout and he picks up a no decision. Bryan Morris came on in relief and did a nice job, striking out four and allowing one run in 2.2 innings pitched. Dubee then came on with two outs in the eighth and got out of the inning before the troubling ninth.
The loss for the Curve means they have lost their first series since July 20th in Akron after going undefeated in eight straight. The Curve have also lost four in a row.
The finale of the three-game series is set for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. For the Curve, RHP Mike Colla (5-8, 3.61) will start for Altoona while RHP Tyler Cloyd (4-3, 3.14) will start for Reading.. Game time is set for 1:05 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa. with pregame coverage on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network will begin at 12:35 p.m.
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