From the Altoona Curve:
Curve Flattened by Yard Goats in Battle of the Bullpens
Altoona slugged four home runs in the defeat.
HARTFORD, CT – Canaan Smith-Njigba mashed a two-run home run on the fourth pitch of the ballgame to set the scene for Altoona, but the early action was not enough to hold back the Yard Goats in a 9-6 defeat at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Sunday night.
After numerous rainouts and injuries within the rotation, both Hartford and Altoona were forced to use bullpen arms in the starter role to close the series. Hartford went to RHP Nate Harris, while the Curve sent RHP Brad Case to the mound.
The Smith-Njigba blast was one of four home runs that made up all the scoring for the Curve in the contest. Rodolfo Castro drilled a solo shot in the third inning, his eleventh of the year. Cal Mitchell also hit a solo shot in the fourth inning as part of a three-hit night. Then, Mason Martin rocked a two-run home run in the seventh for his team-leading 13th blast.
Hartford used the long ball to its advantage in the contest as well. Sean Bouchard hit a two-run homer in the first inning before Taylor Snyder went back-to-back off Case for his league-leading 15th shot of the year to give Hartford a 3-2 lead. Case allowed the three runs in four innings of work.
Curve reliever Will Gardner entered the game in the fifth inning with a 4-3 lead but walked the first four batters he faced to tie the game. A single from Elehuris Montero would score two more Yard Goats as Gardner took the loss on one inning of work with five walks and one hit allowed.
Montero added to Hartford’s lead with a solo shot off Shea Murray in the seventh inning. He finished the night with four hits and three RBI. Murray allowed three runs with two earned in one inning. He also walked five batters. Hunter Stratton closed the game for the Curve with two scoreless innings.
Curve manager Miguel Perez was ejected in the sixth inning after arguing a call at second base with third base umpire Tom Fornarola.
The win for Hartford gave the Yard Goats the series victory, taking three out of five games from the Curve. Altoona falls to 29-23 on the campaign and 4-7 over its last two series.
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