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From Mirror reports
ERIE -- The Curve played an extra-inning game for the first time under baseball's new rule that starts each half inning with a runner on second base, and the prolonged contest took place on a miserable cold and rainy Saturday afternoon that saw the game end with no fans sitting in the stands.
Both teams took advantage of having a runner on second by scoring a run in the 10th inning. The Curve then scored twice in the 11th and held on as Erie managed just one run in its half, giving the visitors a 5-4 win at UPMC Park.
While Altoona is off to a hot start at 6-2, the SeaWolves dropped their six consecutive game after a 3-0 start.
Temperatures were in the low 30s for the game, and rainy conditions made it even tougher for the players. Curve broadcaster Trey Wilson conveyed on the air that by the time extra innings started, not a single fan was sitting in a ballpark seat, although some fans were on the concourse braving the conditions.
Tied at 2-2, the Curve's 10th inning started with Cole Tucker on second base. Manager Michael Ryan said before the season that he would call for a sacrifice bunt in that situation just about every time, but in that spot, he let Pablo Reyes swing away. Reyes grounded out to shortstop, with Tucker taking third on the play.
Tucker scored on a wild pitch seconds later to give Altoona a 3-2 lead.
Erie didn't bunt either with a runner on second in its half of the inning, and A.J. Simcox struck out swinging. But Arvicent Perez delivered a single up the middle off reliever Geoff Hartlieb to tie the game once again.
In the 11th, Logan Hill started on second base and took third on a wild pitch by Erie reliever Mark Ecker. Jason Martin then ripped a triple to left to bring in Hill, and Ke'Bryan Hayes followed with a single to score Martin for a 5-3 lead.
That additional run turned out to be the difference as Erie got a run in its half of the 11th. Sam Street then stranded the tying run on second when he retired Jake Robson on a fly ball to end the game and earn his first save.
Hartlieb (1-0) got the win, while Ecker (0-2) took the loss.
Martin and Hayes had two hits apiece for the Curve.
Lefty Brandon Waddell turned in six superb innings for Altoona, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out six with no walks. He left with a 2-1 lead, then Erie tied it in the seventh against reliever Logan Sendelbach.
Game recap
Key player: LHP Brandon Waddell gave up one unearned run and only two hits over six innings for the Curve.
Key play: CF Jason Martin tripled home a run in the 11th, then scored on a single by 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes for a 5-3 Curve lead.
Key stat: The game was the Curve's first to go extra innings under minor league baseball's new runner on second base rule.
How they scored
Bottom 2nd: Wilson reached on Tucker error, scored on Simcox single (0-1).
Top 5th: Mathisen doubled, scored on Craig sacrifice fly (1-1).
Top 7th: Kelley singled, scored on Reyes double (2-1).
Bottom 7th: Robson singled, scored on Perez single (2-2).
Top 10th: Tucker started on second, scored on Schreiber wild pitch (3-2).
Bottom 10th: Robson started on second, scored on Perez single (3-3).
Top 11th: Hill started on second, scored on Martin triple (4-3); Hayes single scored Martin (5-3).
Bottom 11th: Montgomery started on second, scored on Wilson single (5-4).
Next stop
Today: Altoona at Erie, 1:35 p.m.
Pitchers: Curve RHP Mitch Keller (1-0, 0.00) vs. SeaWolves LHP Tyler Alexander (0-0, 3.18)
Record: 6-2