The Altoona Curve used a five-run eighth inning to lead the way in a 5-2 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in front of 4,223 fans at PNG Field Sunday afternoon.

It marked the first six-game sweep the Curve have had since going to a six-game schedule in 2021.

“I’m kind of at a loss,” Altoona manager Robby Hammock said. “Some things happened this series that shouldn’t happen, to be honest, on both sides, on our side and their side, we were able to take advantage and overcome our mistakes, and we were able to take advantage of their mistakes so that’s one thing I’m happy about.”

To do it, Altoona walked it out in the eighth inning. Termarr Johnson pinch-hit to start the inning and promptly walked on five pitches. The Fisher Cats walked the next four batters in a row to plate Johnson for the Curve’s first run of the game.

Then, two wild pitches from New Hampshire Fisher Cats pitcher Jonathan Lavallee scored Yoyner Fajardo and Matt Fraizer, respectively, to tie the game and subsequently take the lead.

“I couldn’t believe it’s happening,” Hammock said. “I know guys are working. They’re trying to get right and figure it out, but we were able to take advantage of it. I give our guys credit for being patient.”

The patience continued to pay off when Tsung-Che Cheng lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Kervin Pichardo at third. Tres Gonzalez singled home Jase Bowen from first base for the fifth and final run.

“Our guys did a good job of letting their guys work through some stuff, and had trouble finding the zone,” Hammock said. ” We were patient and we were ready to pounce when they made mistakes on the wild pitches. It was good and I’m proud of the guys for that.”

Reliever Cy Nielsen, who came on in the eighth inning, finished off the game with an authoritative strikeout to get the win.

Dombkowski again

For the second time this week, lefty Nick Dombkowski carved up the Fisher Cats. Dombkowski followed up his five inning, eight strikeout performance Tuesday by throwing four perfect frames with three strikeouts against New Hampshire Sunday.

Fun facts

Altoona swept New Hampshire despite hitting .171 (30-for-175) in the series and averaging four runs per game against the Fisher Cats.

Entering the eighth inning, the Curve had only two hits and two walks. After the eighth, the walks ballooned to seven while the hits only grew by one.

Saturday’s game

Anthony Solometo hurled six shutout innings and struck out six against New Hampshire. The Curve scored the only run of the game in the third inning on a double steal.

Catcher Eli Wilson stole second and drew a throw, which allowed Jase Bowen to score from third base.

Next up

Altoona will hit the road for the final time in the 2024 season when they head to Hartford to start a six-game series Tuesday.