Curve fall in Trenton Tuesday

TRENTON, NJ -- A five-run fourth inning for the Altoona Curve was not enough to hold off a comeback, 6-5 victory for the Trenton Thunder on Tuesday at ARM & HAMMER Park.

In a game that started 59 minutes late due to a rain delay and another 25-minute stoppage after the Curve (23-27) scored five runs in the fourth, the Thunder (30-19) chipped away with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth before delivering the go-ahead blow with two in the seventh.

Reliever Yeudy Garcia (Loss, 0-1) issued a two-out walk to Kyle Holder that loaded the bases in the seventh and had two strikes on Rashad Crawford before a two-run single through the right side of the infield lifted Trenton back in front. During the sixth, Trenton greeted Garcia with three straight one-out hits to draw within one run.

All five Curve runs scored after two quick outs by Trenton starter Rony Garcia. Walks by Logan Hill and Mitchell Tolman surrounded an infield hit by Jerrick Suiter to load the bases. Arden Pabst popped a two-run single to left before a two-run triple by Bralin Jackson fell just out of the reach of diving left fielder Zach Zehner. Brett Pope finished the rally with a single to right, the second single of his 3-for-3 day.

Left-hander Domingo Robles made his Double-A debut in the start for the Curve and pitched through five innings despite the rain delay in the fourth. The southpaw fanned six hitters in total, including two in the first frame where he surrendered an unearned run.

Wendel Rijo notched the first of three hits on the night in the first against Robles and advanced to second on a passed ball by the catcher Pabst. With two outs, Chris Gittens singled to left and plated the first run of the game. Gittens later responded to Altoona’s five-run fourth with a long, solo homer over the left field fence, his 10th of the season.

Robles allowed three runs in total, walked one and gave up seven hits and was set up for the win before the late-inning collapse.

Trenton relievers Trevor Lane (Win, 3-0), who took over after the in-game rain delay, and Daniel Alvarez (Save, 7) teamed up for 5.1 scoreless innings against the Curve and did not allow a single runner to reach scoring position.

The series continues on Wednesday with right-hander James Marvel (4-5, 3.81) pitching for the Curve against right-hander Albert Abreu (1-4, 4.78) for Trenton. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at ARM & HAMMER Park.