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Curve drop to 0-3 to open season

05/06/21 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Curve's Mason Martin is called out at 2nd by umpire Steven Hodgins after being tagged by Bowie shortstop Malquin Canelo after attempting to stretch a single into a double in the 1st inning.

For the second consecutive night, an early deficit proved insurmountable for the Curve, who remain winless on the season.

Altoona fell behind by a run in the first inning and never recovered, eventually losing to Bowie, 8-4, Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The home side did not score its first runs until it was trailing 8-0, and the club dropped to 0-3.

However, Altoona put up four runs in the eighth inning, stringing together five hits. Four of the hits were singles, but the rally was not enough to complete the comeback.

“We just got to come together, especially early in the game,” Curve manager Miguel Perez said. “Obviously, we have to make some adjustments late in the count at the plate and continue to execute good pitches to get guys out.”

Players of the game

Lefty Kevin Smith got the starting nod for the Baysox and was excellent, tossing 4ªinnings of shutout ball. Smith allowed five hits and relinquished one walk.

However, he was substituted out of the game after just 73 pitches, resulting in a no-decision. Smith struck out five Curve batters.

For Altoona, first baseman Mason Martin led the way on offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Martin is off to a hot start this season, posting a .417 batting average through three games.

“He takes his job very seriously,” Perez said of Martin. “The hard work is paying off right now.”

SUBHD: Rutschman homers

The first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Baysox catcher Adley Rutschman, hit his first home run at the Double-A level in the first inning. He finished the game 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a homer.

Rutschman is the No. 1 prospect in Baltimore’s farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. He has five total home runs in his brief minor league career.

SUBHD: Stats and stuff

Noe Toribio earned the start on the mound for the Curve and did not pitch deep into the game. The right-hander hurled 3 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.

“I was happy with (his start),” Perez said about Toribio. “He made some good pitches, he pitched with his strength — which is (the) sinker.”

Toribio was tabbed with the loss. He did not walk any batters and struck out three.

Bowie reliever Steven Klimek earned the victory. He pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two.

Altoona pitchers struck out 11 Baysox, the third consecutive contest in which they registered double-digit strikeouts. However, the Curve allowed eight runs for the second night in a row.

SUBHD: Owen’s MLB debut

Former Curve outfielder Hunter Owen made his Major League Baseball debut on Wednesday night for the Pirates against San Diego. He finished the game 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch.

SUBHD: How they scored

Top 1st: Rutschman solo homer (0-1).

Top 2nd: Ferguson reached on fielding error, scored on Dorrian ground out (0-2).

Top 4th: Dorrian solo homer (0-3).

Top 7th: Canelo singled, Vavra walked, both scored on Rutschman double (0-5).

Top 8th: Grenier walked, Dorrian singled, both scored on Canelo single (0-7); Canelo singled, scored on Vavra double (0-8).

Bottom 8th: Bissonette reached on fielder’s choice, scored on Martin double (1-8); Martin doubled, scored on Castro single (2-8); Castro singled, scored on Smith-Njigba single (3-8); Citta singled, scored on Pabst single (4-8).

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