CURVE, Pa. – Four runs in the ninth inning for the Bowie Baysox handed the Altoona Curve a 5-2 defeat on Monday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

(Photo courtesy of Altoona Curve)

Sean Keselica (Loss, 2-3) continued to pitch in relief in the ninth after he faced six Baysox (42-51) hitters during his first two frames out of the Curve (48-42) bullpen. Eight Bowie batters saw Keselica in the ninth and combined to score four times. Anderson Feliz smacked a game-tying single with one out, a passed ball brought in the go-ahead run from third and Martin Cervenka clubbed a two-run homer to cap off the rally.

The Curve brought in the first run of the game without a base hit during the opening frame. Cole Tucker walked, stole second and moved up to third on a wild pitch to set up Will Craig’s league-best 10th sacrifice fly. In the third, Bowie evened the score with three singles capped by a run-scoring knock by Corban Joseph.

Luis Ysla (Loss, 5-4) held the Curve hitless through 6.1 innings despite baserunners reaching third base in the first, third and fifth innings. Stephen Alemais drew two of Ysla’s six walks in the game and was left 90 feet from home twice. With one out in the seventh, Christian Kelley singled up the center of the diamond for Altoona’s first hit and pushed Logan Hill into scoring position.

Altoona’s second hit of the game broke a 1-1 tie. With two outs, Alemais placed a ground-rule double down the right field line to bring in Hill. The Curve loaded the bases when Tucker walked and Ysla was removed from the game.

Taylor Hearn recorded his sixth quality start of the season despite a season-low two strikeouts. He held the Baysox to five hits and one run with two walks.

The Curve and Baysox continue their three-game series on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Right-hander Eduardo Vera (2-3, 5.49) will start for Altoona opposite left-hander Brian Gonzalez (2-5, 6.89) for Bowie.