Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Curve's Lolo Sanchez advances to third base from first on a single by Claudio Finol as Binghamton's Jose Peroza waits on the throw.

By Jared Prugar

For the Mirror

Connor Scott’s diving catch to end the game saved the Altoona Curve from disaster as they escaped with a 9-8 win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in front of 3,276 fans Thursday night at PNG Field.

“I’ve seen Scott make some terrific catches in right field,” Altoona centerfielder Matt Fraizer said. “I mean, just in that moment, it was huge. Juan Minaya came in there in a tough situation, got the job done, trusted defense and then just seeing Scott make that play was relieving.”

Fraizer — on his own — had a bizarre, but spectacular night at the plate as he paved the way for Curve hitters with five RBI.

“A lot of people think production is getting the hits,” Altoona manager Callix Crabbe said “It’s about making sure when the opportunity presents itself that you can get the job done. He got his job done five times tonight.”

Five RBI isn’t out of the norm by any means, but how he landed them was. He went 1-for-6 with a single and hit into four fielder’s choices.

“It’s very interesting, you know?” Fraizer said. “If you put the ball in play good things happen for sure.”

Shortstop Liover Peguero knocked in two runs while going 2-for-4 with two walks.

Eight of the Curve’s 12 hits came from the bottom half of the lineup with first baseman Jacob Gonzalez getting a hit and scoring two runs and Lolo Sanchez and Scott each having two hit nights.

“It’s just a really good team day across the board for a lot of people tonight,” Crabbe said.

Phenomenal Finol

Third baseman and nine hole hitter Claudio Finol smacked two doubles and a single against Binghamton to finish 3-for-5 on the night.

Finol also scored a run and notched an RBI. Finol has now reached safely in four out of his last five games.

Bear Necessities

The Curve turned to reliever Bear Bellomy to stop the bleeding in the fifth inning as they gave up the lead.

Bellomy did just that, dismissing all five Rumble Ponies he faced while striking out three of them.

It was just the momentum swing Altoona was looking for as the Curve would retake the lead in the home half of the inning.

“That’s the spirit of this group,” Crabbe said. “They knew that in that particular instance, once we shut them down and come right back and get the lead off hitter on with a hit and then immediately score a run, it can take the wind out of the sails for a lot of those guys and it did.”

A simple plan

The struggle to throw strikes was real for both teams on Thursday night. Altoona and Binghamton combined for 18 walks.

Curve pitchers made up 11 of those walks.

Next up

RHP Jared Jones will toe the rubber for the Curve Friday night. Jones went 4.1 shutout innings against Hartford in his outing last week.

In the month of May, Jones pitched 14.2 innings while striking out 19, walking four and allowing four earned runs. He’s currently 0-2 with a 2.54 ERA on the season.