The Altoona Curve lost a tough game in eleven innings to end the season on a sour note. The Curve had a 2-0 lead until the seventh inning. Alen Hanson helped the Akron Aeros get the lead with a fielding error.
Akron’s Matt Lawson broke the tie in the eleventh with an RBI single to right field, which was followed by a Chris Wallace sacrifice fly.
The Curve got on board in the third inning thanks to a two-out rally with no one base. Three consecutive singles brought in a run, culminated by Mel Rojas Jr.’s RBI single to left field.
In the fifth, Jarek Cunningham launched a leadoff solo home run on a first pitch fastball that landed in the last row of the left field bleachers. It was Cunningham’s 19th homer of the season and showcased his power that is rare for a second baseman. Cunningham made a nice leaping catch of a line drive in the ninth, timing his jump perfectly and catching the ball at the apex of his jump.
Mel Rojas Jr. led the Curve offense going 3-for-5 with a double and RBI at the plate. In the tenth, the speedy center fielder hit a line drive into the left-center field gap that he stretched into a double to get in scoring position for Dickerson with two outs. The first baseman made a diving play to his right to keep the game tied at two.
Player Notes
**SS Alen Hanson – Hanson had a fielding error in the sixth inning, but then showed a short memory by making a nice backhand play on a ground ball in the hole in the seventh.
**RF Alex Dickerson – Dickerson was promoted to Indianapolis after the game to play in the International League playoffs with the Indians before competing in the Arizona Fall League.
**RHP Jason Grilli – Grilli threw a rehab start today, striking out three batters.
