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AKRON, Ohio -- With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the 10th inning Friday night, Matt Fraizer reached on an infield single to score Seth Beer and fuel a 4-3 victory for the Curve over Akron at Canal Park to open the 2024 season.
The win gives Altoona its 1,700th win in franchise history, with an overall record of 1,700-1,651. It is the first time Altoona has won its Opening Day contest since 2019, when the Curve defeated Akron, 5-0, at Canal Park.
Trailing by a run in the top of the ninth inning, Jackson Glenn opened the frame with a double down the right field line off Ducks reliever Jack Leftwitch. He advanced to third on a balk and scored on a wild pitch three pitches later to tie the game 3-3.
The Curve were held hitless until the top of the sixth inning, when Fraizer knocked a double into the right-field corner off Akron reliever Jordan Jones, putting runners on second and third after Kervin Pichardo opened the frame with a walk.
Tres Gonzalez followed with an RBI groundout before Glenn made it a 3-2 game with an RBI single to score Fraizer.
Righty Bubba Chandler got the start and struck out four batters in 3• innings of work. Akron picked up the first two runs of the game on a double from Petey Halpin in the second inning. Chandler set down four-of-five hitters to finish off his outing after a double from Halpin. He threw 60 pitches, 36 strikes in his season debut.
Justin Meis held the line for the Curve bullpen with three scoreless innings of relief, covering the fifth through seventh. Meis struck out three and allowed just one hit and one walk in his outing. Cameron Junker tossed a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts to keep the game at 3-2 before Altoona rallied in the ninth. Grant Ford allowed one run in two-thirds innings of work following Chandler.
Isaac Mattson, making his organizational debut, tossed a scoreless top of the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk in the 10th to lock down the victory. Mattson earned the win with a pair of strikeouts in relief.
Akron's starter Doug Nikhazy did not allow a hit over the first five innings of the contest, striking out five and walking two.
The Curve continue their series Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Altoona sends righty Sean Sullivan to the mound with Akron slated to start righty Tommy Mace.