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Connor Scott provided the exact offense the Altoona Curve needed late as they rode a six-run eighth inning to a 6-3 victory over the Hartford Yard Goats Tuesday night in front of 3,461 fans.
It was a moment needed from the Curve who struggled early and often with runners in scoring position.
"We've been struggling a little bit with runners in scoring position," Scott said. "So we've been working on a lot just trying to do my job … just to be able with runners in scoring position hunker down and do my job is mainly what I was focusing on."
The momentum turned in favor of Altoona with an inning-ending double play in the top half of the eighth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Hartford right fielder Zac Veen hit a high fly ball to left fielder Fabricio Macias.
Macias caught the ball and then threw out Kyle Datres at home to thwart the threat.
"The fly ball to left field with Macias was a really big play, probably the play of the game if I'm being completely honest with you," Altoona manager Callix Crabbe said. "We don't win that game f we don't get that double play right there."
In the home half of the inning, the Curve began their offensive eruption and fulfilled a prophecy set forth by Crabbe ahead of the inning during his conversation with Scott.
"Before he got to the plate, I told him if Drew Maggi got on base, Andres Alvarez would be bunting and he's got to get the job done," Crabbe said. "I said it just like that. And he said 'you don't have faith in me?' I was like I have faith in you. I'm just telling you to get the job done. It was cool right there. We're having a little bit of a fun time but it was nice to see him actually have a really good game and hopefully we can build off of it."
Scott had built off a solid night at the plate where he struck the ball hard, including a double in the fifth inning that broke up Hartford's no hitter. That success is in large part thanks to his approach at the plate.
"Take every game, every pitch is a new pitch and I can't look back on it and so just continue working at it and hopefully it pays off for the rest of the season," Scott said. "It paid off for us today so we just have to keep rolling with it."
Solid Sully
Curve starter Sean Sullivan went a career-high seven innings with five strikeouts. He yielded only one walk, but allowed three runs on seven hits.
Sullivan allowed a run in the second and a two-run homer in the fifth inning which ended up being the only damage done to him Thursday.
"He got right back in the strike zone, I saw him get the conviction that he didn't lose it. And so immediately he was able to get right back in the strike zone and gave us a really strong outing," Crabbe said. "That game is very different if he's not able to go to six innings that he went that were pretty strong, even considering the runs that he gave up."
It marked the third game in a row where Sullivan went six or more innings.
Turnin' two
Throughout the season, Altoona has demonstrated quite the ability to notch double plays and Tuesday's showing was no different.
The Curve escaped danger in the second inning with a double play courtesy of second baseman Andres Alvarez and shortstop Liover Peguero.
It was the 40th double play turned by Altoona this year which is good for first among all Eastern League teams.
The eighth inning double play ended up being the 41st of the season for the Curve.
"Turning double plays comes down to being ready for the ball to be hit to you, Crabbe said. "Pre-pitch routines have been a really big thing for us early on. We just worked really well on our pre pitch routines, getting timing with our feet and a ball getting into the hitting zone. We've been really good at it."
Next up
Altoona's Aaron Shortridge gets the ball for the Education Day 11 a.m. matchup against the Yard Goats.
Shortridge enters today's game with a 3-2 record and 3.82 ERA. In his outing against Bowie last week, Shortridge went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits while walking four.