The Altoona Curve had to work some extra inning magic but got the job done in a defensive gem, beating the Somerset Patriots 2-1 in 10 innings.
Altoona’s bullpen strung together 19 strikeouts, one shy of the franchise record in a game. The two teams were kept off the board until the seventh inning, which started with Blake Sabol hitting a lead-off double to left field. He advanced to third on a Liover Peguero groundout then scored on a Tucupita Marcano groundout to make it 1-0. Down to the last out, Somerset came back with a double from Brandon Lockridge and a single from Jession Rosario to tie the game at 1 all. The Curve defense tightened up and got out of the inning with a tie.
In the bottom half of the tenth, Placed Runner Connor Scott advanced to third on a leadoff single by Andres Alvarez, then Aaron Shackelford hit the game-winning infield single that brought home Scott for the win.
The two teams play again this afternoon with Mike Burrows handling the starting pitching for the Curve and Luis Medina pitching for Somerset.
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