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Curve beaten in Akron

AKRON, Ohio — Of all the ways to lose a game, one of the most frustrating feelings for a team is when a pitcher gives up the tying and go-ahead runs without making batters do anything.

The Curve fell victim to that Friday night in a 3-2 loss to Akron at Canal Park, watching their 2-1 lead disappear in the sixth inning because of wildness.

Altoona starter Tanner Anderson walked the leadoff man in the sixth and gave up a single, then retired the next two batters. Anderson followed that up with another walk to load the bases and departed in favor of Miguel Rosario.

The reliever had a tough time with his command, though, walking Todd Hankins to force in the tying run. Rosario then hit Yhoxian Medina, forcing in Bobby Bradley with what turned out to be the decisive run.

The Curve fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but came right back with a run in the second as Connor Joe singled and later came home on a sacrifice fly by Zane Chavez.

Altoona grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth on the first Double-A home run by Chase Simpson. The Curve offense didn’t much after that, however, collecting only three hits while getting blanked the rest of the way.

Anderson (1-1) was charged with all three Akron runs in the loss. He allowed four runs and walked four over 5ª innings. He entered the game with a 0.84 ERA, which was fourth best in the Eastern League.

Akron starter Nick Pasquale (1-0) picked up the win, giving up two runs on five hits over six innings. Matt Whitehouse tossed the final two innings to earn his first save.

Simpson had two of the Curve’s seven hits on the night. Bradley was 2-for-2 and walked twice for Akron, which was swept by the Curve last week in Altoona.

Notes: How good of a start has Curve 2B Kevin Kramer had? Entering play Friday, he led all of professional baseball (majors and minors) in on-base percentage at .571, and he led minor league baseball in OPS at 1.349. He was 1-for-4 Friday and has hit safely in 11 of his 12 games. … LHP Brandon Waddell, who’s on the seven-day DL with a left forearm strain, is not expected to start again until next weekend.

Game recap

Key player: RHP Nick Pasquale held the Curve to two runs in six innings to win for Akron.

Key play: Curve RHP Miguel Rosario walked in the tying run and hit a batter to force in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.

Key stat: The Curve are now 71-111 all-time at Canal Park, by far their worst record at any ballpark.

How they scored

Bottom 1st: Krieger singled, scored on Chang groundout (0-1).

Top 2nd: Joe singled, scored on Chavez sacrifice fly (1-1).

Top 4th: Simpson solo homer (2-1).

Bottom 6th: Mejia walked, scored on Hankins bases-loaded walk (2-2); Bradley singled, scored on Medina hit by pitch (2-3).

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