Altoona Curve �12, �Bowie BaySox �3 (box)
The Curve scored early and late, recording 12 runs on 16 hits, while starter Rudy Owens and reliever Derek Hankins held the BaySox in check. �A fielding error by 3B Josh Harrison began the game, and a throwing error by C Hector Gimenez on a stolen base put a runner on third base before Owens could even catch his breath. �Three consecutive singles followed, driving in two runs (one unearned), before a double play and a strikeout could get Owens out of the inning.
The Curve came right back, though, to score 3 runs in the bottom of the frame, as the BaySox committed 3 errors. �SS Chase d’Arnaud reached base on a fielding error, and went to second base when CF Gorkys Hernandez singled. �The two went for a double steal, and when former Pirate farmhand C Steve Lerud made a throwing error, d’Arnaud scored and Hernandez moved to third base. �After two strikeouts, 2B Jordy Mercer reached on another fielding error, and Hernandez scored the tying run. �Gimenez singled, putting runners on the cornerd, and DH Shelby Ford drove in Mercer with an RBI double, to give the Curve a 3-2 lead.
Mercer extended the lead to 6-2 in the 2nd inning with a 3-run homer, following a ground rule double by Harrison and another fielding error that put 1B Matt Hague on base.
Owens allowed only one runner over the 2nd – 5th innings — a walk by Lerud. �But Owens fell victim to the error bug again in the 5th, when a single and a fielding error gave Bowie another unearned run. �Derek Hankins relieved Owens to begin the 6th, and Hankins went on to finish the game for Altoona. �He pitched 4 scoreless innings to earn his 2nd save of the season. �Hankins gave up two singles in the 7th (one to Lerud) and another single to lead off the 9th.
The Curve were not done though. �Back-to-back doubles by Harrison and Hague led off the 7th inning, and produced another run. �Mercer also singled in the inning, and Gimenez grounded to third, but Hague was thrown out at the plate. �The Curve exploded for 5 more runs in the 8th inning. �The first 6 batters of the inning reached base safely, on alternating singles and doubles: �single by LF Anthony Norman, double by d’Arnaud, single by Hernandez (2 RBI), double by Harrison, single by Hague (RBI), double by Mercer (RBI). �Gimenez added a sacrifice fly, to give the Curve their 5th run of the inning.
Owens earned the win, his 7th of the season.
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West Virginia Power 6, �Greensboro Grasshoppers �5 (box)
The Power also had a 5-run inning, then added a run in the 9th to take the win. �Greensboro got onto the scoreboard first, with a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st. �The Power showed off their power in the 3rd. �C Pat Irvine led off with a single, but was forced out on a grounder by SS Benji Gonzalez, who was safe at first. �2B Elevys Gonzalez and RF David Rubinstein both singled to load the bases. �Gonzalez was forced in when 1B Aaron Baker was hit by a pitch. �Then LF Rogelios Noris was the hero, with a grand slam over the left field wall, to give the Power a 5-1 lead.
Power starter Phillip Irwin retired the Grasshoppers in order in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings. � In the 5th, with one more out, he hit a batter, and gave up a single. �A stolen base, a sacrifice fly, and another single brought in 2 runs in the 5th. �One more solo homer added a run in the 6th, but the Power were still ahead, 5-4. �They also added another run with a solo blast by Baker to begin the 9th inning, and the Power turned out to need that extra run.
Marc Baca pitched 2 scoreless innings for the Power, then Duke Welker came on to take care of the 9th. �Welker walked the first three batters he faced, loading the bases. �A double play erased two runners, but let one run come in. �A ground out ended the game before any more runs could score.
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State College Spikes �4, �Batavia Muck Dogs �2 (box)
Two runs in the top of the 10th gave the Spikes the win in Batavia this afternoon. �RF�Justin Bencsko led off the inning with a single into right field, and 2B�Walker Gourley moved him to second base with a sacrifice bunt. �LF�Adalberto Santos was intentionally walked, then DH�Chase Lyles drove in Bencsko with a line drive single into left field. �Santos scored on a grounder force out at second that was probably intended as a double play, but didn’t make it. �Jhonatan Ramos only had to hold on and retire the side in the bottom of the 10th for the Spikes’ win.
Tyler Waldron made the start for the Spikes, and he allowed one run, coming in the 3rd, on two singles and a sacrifice fly. �He also gave up two walks, loading the bases, but ended the inning with a double play, when 3B Kelson Brown took a grounder, stepped on third, and fired across the diamond to first. �Waldron pitched 4 innings, allowing that one run on 3 hits and 3 walks, with 3 strikeouts.
The Spikes came back with 2 runs in the top of the 4th. �Santos and Brown both singled, then both stole a base. �SS Gift Ngoepe walked, and ball four was a wild pitch that allowed Santos to score. �C Matt Skirving’s ground out allowed Brown to score, giving the Spikes a 2-1 lead.
Zach Fuesser relieved Waldron, and he allowed one run in his 3 innings of work. �In the 7th, a triple and a single let Batavia score, to tie it up a 2-2. �Batavia did not threaten after that. �Jhonatan Ramos pitched 3 innings and did not allow a hit or a run, but struck out 3 batters.
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