CURVE, Pa. – Harold Ramirez clubbed his first home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning but the Altoona Curve fell to the Akron RubberDucks, 13-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Altoona (24-20) dropped consecutive games for the first time since April 30-May 1 in Akron, while Akron (33-12) has now won 15 of its last 18 contests.
The Curve collected just four hits between the second and eighth innings, but drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run single by Erich Weiss to come within 13-6, but RubberDucks reliever J.P. Feyereisen stopped the damage after that to close the Akron win.
Akron took a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning but the Curve tied the game at 3-3 following an Austin Meadows two-run double and a Jonathan Schwind RBI double.
The RubberDucks overtook the lead with a three-run top of the second and scored three runs again in the third and fifth innings while adding an insurance run in the sixth. Curve starter Tyler Eppler (Loss, 2-3) allowed 10 hits and gave up a career-worst nine runs in three innings pitched, walking one and striking out three.
Altoona had difficulty touching Akron starter D.J. Brown (Win, 3-0) after the first inning, and Brown totaled six innings pitched with three runs allowed on seven hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.
Schwind made his third relief pitching appearance of the season in the top of the ninth, and has not allowed an earned run in 6.1 career innings pitched. Weiss improved his hitting streak to eight games. Both Weiss and Ramirez logged a 3-for-5 day, and the two combined to score three runs and drive in three runs. Akron’s Todd Hankins led all hitters with four hits, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored.
Altoona will bring its seven-game homestand to a close with another 10:30 a.m. start against Akron. Curve right-hander David Whitehead (2-4, 6.29) gets the start, and will oppose RubberDucks lefty Shawn Morimando (8-0, 1.87), who leads all of Minor League Baseball in wins. Thursday is the final Education Day of the season at PNG Field, and is also Throwback Thursday presented by Rocky 104.9. The Curve will be celebrating the 1960s and will have food and drink specials, including $1 Kunzler hot dogs and $2 16 oz. Yuengling and regular sodas. Altoona will also wear jerseys inspired by the inaugural 1999 team.
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