From the Altoona Curve:
Suwinski’s Big Day Leads Thrilling Victory at Akron
Altoona scored three times in each the seventh and ninth inning
AKRON, OH – Jack Suwinski’s fourth hit of the day, a run-scoring double in the top of the ninth inning, broke a 5-5 tie and aided the Curve to an 8-5 win over the Akron RubberDucks on Wednesday night at Canal Park.
Working against left-hander Skyler Arias, Connor Kaiser singled to start the inning and advanced to second on Diego Castillo’s line shot to left field. After a mound visit, Suwinski doubled off the left field wall to score Kaiser and take the lead. After a strikeout, Carter Bins singled off the glove of the third baseman and the Curve took advantage of a throwing error to plate two runs on the play.
Shea Murray delivered a six-pitch bottom of the ninth inning to finish off the victory; he combined with left-hander Nathan Kirby to cover the final three innings of the game. Kirby allowed two runs in 1.1 innings of relief with two strikeouts.
Left-hander Omar Cruz matched his career-high with 6.0 innings on Wednesday night, surrendering just three runs, two earned, on six hits and one walk. He struck out four and left the game trailing 3-2 after surrendering a two-run double to Will Brennan and inducing a fly out to right to end the outing. Cruz needed just 83 pitches to work through his outing.
Altoona scored three times in the seventh inning to take a 5-3 lead off the RubberDucks bullpen. With men at first and third, Kaiser dropped down a sacrifice bunt and the pitcher, Aaron Pinto, opted to try to get Daniel Amaral leading off of third instead of getting an out at first base. Amaral managed to elude the run down and tag from SS Bryan Rocchio to tie the game. Later in the frame, Suwinski put the Curve in front with an RBI single and Mason Martin reached on a fielders choice to bring another run home.
Martin drove in a pair as part of a 1-for-5 day at the plate. His 59 RBI on the season lead all Pirates minor leaguers and lead the Double-A Northeast League.
Suwinski matched a career-high with four hits at the plate, he added a double in the sixth, drove in a pair and scored two runs. Josh Bissonette, Bins and Kaiser also added two hits as part of a 12-hit day for the Curve at the plate.
The Curve continue their six-game series with the RubberDucks at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday night. RHP Travis MacGregor (3-4, 5.46) will start for Altoona, the ‘Ducks will start LHP Tanner Tully (5-3, 3.12).
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