READING, Pa. – After a dominant performance by Taylor Hearn, the Altoona Curve were defeated by the Reading Fightin Phils, 6-5, on a walk-off error in extras in the first game of a double-header on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. The second game of the doubleheader was canceled due to rain.
(Photo courtesy of Altoona Curve)
The Curve (51-45) split the abbreviated four-game series with the Fightin Phils (46-53).
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, Reading’s Cornelius Randolph reached on a fielding error by Altoona second baseman Alfredo Reyes, allowing two runs to score and giving the Fightin Phils a 6-5 win.
Altoona scored the game’s first run with an RBI double by Ke’Bryan Hayes in the top of the sixth inning.
The game continued into the seventh inning and the two teams combined for six runs, but with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the game went into a delay with the Curve holding a 4-3 lead.
Reyes drove a two-run single and Logan Ratledge added a sacrifice fly to give the Curve a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. With Tate Scioneaux on the mound and rain falling, Reading picked up an RBI double by Malquin Canelo and a two-run single by Adam Haseley to close the Fightin Phils within a run.
Damek Tomscha reached with a single, putting runners at first and second with two outs. Scioneaux worked a 2-2 count on Darick Hall, having Reading down to its last strike with two outs and two runners on, before the tarp was brought out.
After a two-hour and 40-minute delay, Matt Eckelman (Loss, 0-1) entered and allowed a game-tying single to Hall on the first pitch he threw. The Curve worked out of the inning to force extras.
Will Craig hit a two-out triple to put the Curve back on top, 5-4, in the top of the eighth when Reading center fielder Jan Hernandez slipped in wet grass.
The Curve begin a three-game road series against the RubberDucks on Monday night. Right-hander Eduardo Vera (2-3, 5.06) will start for the Curve, opposed by right-hander Aaron Civale for the RubberDucks (5-2, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron.
