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By Jarrod Prugar
The Associated Press
Home runs by Henry Davis and Matt Gorski weren't enough to overcome a seven-run 11th inning by Akron as the Altoona Curve lost 12-6 Tuesday night in front of 2,348 fans.
"Generally speaking, it was a good game, a 5-5 game until the 11th," Altoona manager Callix Crabbe said. "The score is not indicative of what the game looked like, but real close."
Of the nine hits the Curve offense recorded, six of those went for extra bases.
Gorski got in on the slugfest with a double and home run while Fabricio Macias added a double to the tally in the third inning.
It was the second multi-home run game for Davis with his solo shots in the first and seventh innings, respectively. Davis also added a double and a hit by pitch on the evening.
"We know what he is," Crabbe said of Davis. "He's a very capable offensive player. When he puts the ball in play, it's usually with high exit velocities and he controls the strike zone."
It's no exaggeration when Crabbe mentions his ability to hit the ball hard given both of Davis' homers Tuesday left the bat at over 100 mph.
Bullpen blues
Six Altoona pitchers combined to allow two runs on two hits despite walking five Rubber Ducks in six innings, including the top of the 10th.
That performance might have allowed the Curve to crawl back in the game, but it was in the 11th where Tahaj Thomas got knocked around the park, giving up seven runs on five hits, including a two-run homer from Korey Holland.
It was Thomas' 10th inning of work this season and it ballooned his ERA to 9.00.
LEYBA HITS THE IL
Infielder Domingo Leyba was placed on the 7-Day IL prior to Tuesday's game. He's currently hitting .329 with 17 RBI on the season.
Claudio Finol was transferred from Greensboro to Altoona to take his spot on the roster. Finol has one hit in three games with the Curve this season.
Next up
The Curve play this morning at 11 a.m. but did not know who their starting pitcher was going to be at press time Tuesday night. The Ducks are going to throw righty Tanner Burns (0-1).