Altoona Curve Fought Mightily, Still Lose 6-5 to New Britain Rock Cats - AA, Eastern League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - NEW BRITAIN, CT - Jonel Pacheco drilled a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to highlight a late comeback attempt, but the Altoona Curve rally fell just short in a 6-5 loss to the New Britain Rock
Cats in the middle game of a three-game series Wednesday evening at New
Britain Stadium in Connecticut.

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Despite the loss, Altoona (27-35) has still posted an impressive 11-4 mark
in its last 15 contests and has split the first two games of the series
against the Rock Cats (29-35), who ended a four-game losing skid with
their win.

Trailing 6-3 and facing Rock Cats' closer Ben Julianel, Altoona started a
rally in the top of the ninth, when Luis Cruz drew a four-pitch walk to
open the frame. After Cruz was erased on a fielder's choice hit by Pedro
Powell, Curve manager Tim Leiper called upon Pacheco for his first
pinch-hit appearance of the season. Pacheco promptly drilled the first
pitch he saw high over the left-field fence for his team-leading seventh
longball of the season and the first pinch-hit homer by an Altoona hitter
this season.

Shelby Ford followed Pacheco's round tripper with the second of his two
hits on the night, but remained at first base as both Melvin Dorta and
Jason Bowers were retired to end the game.

Dorta starred offensively for the Curve in the loss, going 4-for-5 with an
RBI and fell just a home run shy of a cycle. Though he had only five hits
in 62 at-bats against left-handers entering Wednesday's action, Dorta
collected each of his four hits against southpaws.

Julianel earned his 12th save for the Rock Cats and helped starter Kyle
Aselton (3-1) earn his third win. The right-hander, who was making only
his second start against 20 relief appearances for New Britain, allowed
two runs and five hits over five innings.

Reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Yoslan Herrera (3-7) suffered
the loss for the Curve, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits
over 5 1/3 innings.

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