Kaiser

By Matthew Knaub

For the Mirror

An offensive explosion in the first inning was enough to propel the Curve past Binghamton on Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Altoona scored six runs in the first frame, capped off by a grand slam from shortstop Connor Kaiser, on its way to defeating the Rumble Ponies 6-3. The Curve scored six runs on just six hits in the contest.

“I just wanted to be on time and be on time for the fastball specifically,” Kaiser said about his grand slam. “I got one to hit and didn’t miss it.”

The Curve opened the scoring with RBI singles from left fielder Canaan Smith-Njigba and right fielder Cal Mitchell, before both scored on Kaiser’s grand slam. The first inning also included a brief seven-minute lightning delay.

Binghamton second baseman Luis Carpio hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and the Rumble Ponies scored two more runs in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback. They stranded 11 runners on base in the matchup.

Player of the game

Southpaw Cam Vieaux earned the start on the mound for the Curve and threw four strong innings. Vieaux allowed just one earned run on two hits in a no-decision.

A relief pitcher at the start of the season, the outing was Vieaux’s fourth start of the season — three of which have come in the last three weeks. He’s allowed just one earned run in each of his last two starts.

Stats and stuff

Right-hander Luc Rennie started the game for Binghamton, allowing six earned runs on five hits in 4ª innings of work. He struck out eight batters, but was ultimately tabbed with the loss.

Altoona reliever Steven Jennings was credited with the win. The right-hander threw three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.

Righty Hunter Stratton earned the save, his sixth of the season. Stratton did not allow any runs or hits in the ninth inning and struck out one batter.

New rule

With the second half of the minor league season now underway, an experimental rule is now in place. Major League Baseball is requiring all Double-A infielders to have both feet completely in the infield dirt and requiring that two infielders must position themselves on each side of second base.

The experimental rule is intended to limit the defensive shift and thus increase offense. It was enforced by the umpires on Tuesday night.