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By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
Things fell apart for the Altoona Curve late on Thursday night.
Akron scored six runs in the final two innings as the Curve fell 11-5 to the Akron RubberDucks in front of 2,881 fans at PNG Field Wednesday night.
It was a tie game at 6-6 entering the top of the ninth inning before the wheels fell off the bus for the Curve.
"We've played them so much especially when we were going through our spell, they were right there in the middle of it, and beat us every time," Altoona manager Robby Hammock said. "We've had a really tough time with this team."
Reliever Eddy Yean got Akron's Dayan Frias to ground out to third baseman Charles McAdoo to start the inning.
Yean yielded a single before C.J. Kayfus put a Yean pitch well over the fence in right field to give the RubberDucks an 8-6 lead.
Back-to-back Akron doubles forced Yean out of the game and put the RubberDucks ahead 9-6. J.C. Flowers entered to stop the bleeding, but only compounded things as he gave up a walk and a weak single that allowed Akron's Kahlil Watson to score from third.
Flowers yielded another run when Joe Lampe scored on a groundout for the second out of the inning.
"We didn't make pitches. We gave up extra base hits, walked guys, and they capitalized on it," Hammock said. "We made a couple of mental mistakes. They're a good team and we can't do that against them."
The RubberDucks totaled five hits and walked three times en route to their five-run inning.
"We're trying to figure out who can get it done," Hammock said. "We have a little bit of history with this team."
Altoona's struggles against Akron have reached a fever pitch so to speak as Thursday's loss now makes eight in a row home losses to the RubberDucks and puts the season record at 3-14.
"They've had a lot of success with us so I think their confidence is a little different when they play us," Hammock said.
Bright spots
McAdoo has made himself right at home after joining the Curve in Bowie after a tremendous first half in High A Greensboro.
McAdoo went 3-for-5 including a double against Akron and scored two of Altoona's six runs.
"I just feel like they're putting the balls in spots where I can hit it and I'm putting the barrel on the ball as best I can," McAdoo said.
Designated hitter Yoyner Fajardo chipped in three hits including a double and two runs as well for the Curve.
"He single handedly has changed the complexion of our offense," Hammock said. "He's a huge reason for the wins we've had over the past two and a half, three weeks."
Davis returns
Former Curve catcher Henry Davis began his rehab assignment with Altoona Wednesday night. Davis is currently on the 7-day Injured List due to a concussion.
Davis went 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout before Eli Wilson replaced him in the top of the eighth inning.
The plan for Davis is to have tonight off before going behind the plate again on Friday. From there it will be day-to-day based on how he's feeling according to Hammock.
Next up
The Curve will send righty Bubba Chandler to the mound tonight. Chandler is 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA for Altoona this season.
Last week against Bowie, Chandler tossed a seven inning shutout while striking out a career-high 10.