FROM THE ALTOONA CURVE (“BROOKIES” IS THE PROMOTIONAL WEEKEND NAME FOR THE CURVE):
Freeman’s Glove Robs Brookies of Win on Saturday Night
Cal Mitchell knocks his fifth home run of the season in the loss.
CURVE, PA – Trailing by three runs in the bottom of the eighth, Altoona designated hitter Brendt Citta came to the plate with two runners on and drove the first pitch he saw deep to center field. The shot could have left the yard, giving the Brookies a late lead, but Senators center fielder Cole Freeman made an outstanding leaping catch against the wall to end the inning. The catch fueled a Harrisburg win, 4-2, at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday night.
The Brookies (27-19) tried to pull off a ninth inning comeback for the second night in a row when Cal Mitchell blasted his fifth homer of the season, a lead-off, solo shot to center field. The comeback ended when the next three batters were retired by Senators reliever Gabe Klobosits (Save, 3) to end the contest.
Harrisburg (17-29) got on the board in the first inning after a lead-off walk to Freeman. Curve starter Jeff Passantino (Loss, 1-4) struck out the next two batters before catcher Jakson Reetz lined a double into left field to score Freeman.
Passantino would allow two more runs in the fourth inning before leaving with an apparent injury. He left the game with runners on first and second, finishing 3.2 innings and allowing three runs on three hits and four strikeouts. Reliever Oddy Nunez entered the contest and allowed two singles to score the two baserunners and make it a 3-0 game. Nunez allowed two hits over 2.1 innings.
The Brookies responded in the fifth inning after a Daniel Amaral two-out double. Canaan Smith-Njigba lined an RBI-single to left field and would make it all the way to third before Rodolfo Castro struck out to end the frame.
The Senators added a run in the eighth on a fielding error by Josh Bissonette. Cam Vieaux allowed the lone unearned run on 1.1 innings with one hit and two strikeouts. John O’Reilly then tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with one hit allowed.
Harrisburg starter Tim Cate (Win, 2-3) struck out four Brookies in five innings, allowing one run. The Senators then got a scoreless inning from each of Pearson McMahan and Jhonatan German.
The Brookies will look for the split in their six-game series with the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. RHP Noe Toribio (1-1, 4.55) will get the start for Altoona, with Harrisburg sending RHP Andrew Lee (1-2, 2.03).
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