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AKRON -- Altoona scored a pair of first-inning runs and led 5-2 after four innings, however, the Akron RubberDucks rallied for a 6-5 win over the Curve on Tuesday night at Canal Park.
The Curve offense worked two walks and two hits off Akron starter Rorik Maltrud, plating two runs on a bloop double by Jack Brannigan. Brannigan's first two RBI of the season gave the Curve the early 2-0 advantage.
Po-Yu Chen turned in four strong innings in his season debut, striking out seven batters. Chen allowed two runs on three hits and one walk, ending a streak of 15 straight scoreless innings from Curve starters when Akron scratched out a second-inning run against him.
Termarr Johnson rocketed his first homer of the season in the fourth inning as part of a 1-for-4 day. Johnson smashed a 1-1 offering from lefty Carter Spivey into the right-field corner.
With the Curve holding a 5-2 lead after six innings, thanks to two scoreless innings of relief from Nick Dombkowski, Akron began its rally. The 'Ducks used a wild pitch and an RBI single from Jake Fox in the seventh against Valentin Linarez to score a pair of runs. Jaden Woods entered and struck out Cooper Ingle to end the inning.
Akron then got a leadoff single in the eighth from CJ Kayfus and a walk from Jorge Burgos to put men on base. After Joe Lampe popped out on a bunt attempt, Woods' throw to first was errant and advanced the runners to second and third, respectively. Cristofer Melendez entered in relief and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Dayan Frias to tie the game, and then tossed a wild pitch to score Burgos from third as the go-ahead run.
Curve batters totaled eight walks and eight hits, stranding nine men on base and going 2-for-8 with men in scoring position.