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Altoona and Akron score all their runs in the 9th inning leading to a walk-off victory for the Curve

Friday night the Double-A Altoona Curve and Akron RubberDucks were locked in a pitcher’s duel. Entering the 9th inning the game was scoreless. While both teams scored in the 9th inning, the RubberDucks scored 1 run while the Curve scored 2 on their way to 2-1 walk-off victory to improve to 48-51 on the season.

Kyle Nicolas started on the mound for the Curve. Nicolas pitched just 2 innings, but he did not allow a hit, walked a batter and struck out four. Jeffrey Passantino followed with 4 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Brade Case pitched 2 scoreless, hitless innings out of the Curve bullpen while striking out three. Tahnaj Thomas allowed a run in the top of the 9th inning, but did not walk a batter and picked up a strikeout. The transition to the bullpen has gone well for Thomas this season, he now owns a 3.26 ERA to go with 39 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 38.2 innings pitched this season.

Prior to the bottom of the 9th inning the lone Altoona hit was a Blake Sabol single. After Grant Koch walked to start the inning, Jared Triolo hit a triple and the game was tied at 1. After Andres Alvarez walked, Sabol hit a sacrifice fly to score Triolo and give the Curve a 2-1 victory.