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From Mirror reports
SOMERSET, N.J. -- Abrahan Gutierrez launched his second Double-A home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning. That was probably the highlight for Altoona Tuesday night.
Despite the home run, the Curve could not hold off the Somerset bats in a bullpen game as Altoona dropped the opener of its series with the Patriots, 8-4, on Tuesday Night at TD Bank Ballpark.
Gutierrez homered for the second at-bat in a row, going back to his game-tying blast in the ninth inning on Sunday in Richmond. The home run came off Somerset starter Gray Fenter to give the Curve the early lead. Gutierrez finished the day with two hits, his second multi-hit effort in as many games for Altoona.
Liover Peguero added to the advantage for Altoona with his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot off Fenter in the third inning that narrowly avoided the glove of Somerset center fielder Jasson Dominguez to give the Curve a 3-0 lead.
Somerset went on from that point to outscore the Curve, 8-1, to earn the come-from-behind victory. Trey Sweeney knocked an RBI single off Curve starter Brad Case in the third before a Case pickoff throwing error plated a second run. Case allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits in three innings pitched.
Omar Cruz followed Case and took the loss, allowing three runs in 1ª innings. Back-to-back wild pitches by Cruz tied the game in the fifth inning, moments before Braeden Ogle entered and allowed an Austin Wells double to to score two runs.
The Patriots added three runs in the eighth inning. T.J. Rumfield homered off Juan Minaya to lead off the inning. Tyler Hardman followed with a double before Minaya worked two quick outs. Aaron Palensky and Eric Wagaman added back-to-back RBI doubles to put the game out of reach.
Cameron Junker tossed a scoreless inning of relief in the loss for Altoona. Lolo Sanchez added a late run in the sixth when he reached second on a scoring error with two outs to score Mason Martin. Claudio Finol had two hits in the loss.
The loss brings Altoona's record to 30-26, which is tied for first place with Erie in the Southwest Division with 12 games remaining in the first half of the season.
Altoona continues its 12-game road trip tonight with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. The Curve send righty Jared Jones to the mound opposite Somerset righty Blane Abeyta.
Historic milestone
Former Curve left-hander Joe Jacques, who played in 2019 and 2022, became the 200th alumni in Altoona Curve franchise history to reach the big leagues on June 12 when he recently entered a game for the Boston Red Sox.
Since 1999, 149 players have suited up for Altoona and made their MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jacques becomes the 51st player in franchise history to make his MLB debut with another organization, joining 2022 C/OF Blake Sabol (San Francisco Giants), 2012-14/2023 INF Drew Maggi and 2019 RHP Cody Bolton to do so this season.
Twice in Altoona's franchise history the Pittsburgh Pirates have suited up a starting nine of all Curve alumni, doing so for the first time on Sep. 12, 2018, and again on May 30, 2023. In 2018, Adam Frazier (2B), Starling Marte (CF), Josh Bell (1B), Jordan Luplow (RF), Kevin Kramer (3B), Pablo Reyes (LF), Kevin Newman (SS), Jacob Stallings (C), and Jameson Taillon (P) all suited up for the Pirates in a 4-3 win.
The Pirates suited up an all-Curve alumni lineup again on May 30, 2023, with nine different Curve alumni on the field: Andrew McCutchen (RF), Tucupia Marcano (SS), Connor Joe (1B), Jack Suwinski (LF), Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B), Ji Hwan Bae (CF), Rodolfo Castro (2B), Jason Delay (c) and Josh Palacios (DH) started for the Pirates and 2022 Curve C/OF Blake Sabol went 2-for-3 with a walk for the Giants
The 2015 Curve have the most alumni in a single season reach MLB with 19 different players from that club make their way to a major league roster after their time in Altoona. The Curve had 13 players make their MLB debut in 2022, one shy of the franchise record for alumni debuts in the same season. Twice in franchise history (2016 and 2018) the Curve have had 14 alumni make their debut.