Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Curve starter Connor Wietgrefe questions umpire Stone Garver about a called balk.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Curve center fielder Mitch Jebb tracks a fly ball from Harrisburg’s Cayden Wallace.

Although there hasn’t been a lot of offense to be had for the Altoona Curve so far through two games, no one is questioning their effort after Friday night’s game.

After allowing four runs to Harrisburg in the top of the 10th inning, the Curve clawed back for three runs in the bottom of the 10th.

With runners at the corners and one out, a hot shot by Will Taylor found the glove of Harrisburg second baseman Cortland Lawson and was turned into a double play to finish the game in a 6-5 loss to the Senators in extra innings.

“It’s a hell of a comeback by the group,” Curve manager Andy Fox said. “The effort they gave was tremendous. You hit the ball hard, and sometimes it finds holes and sometimes it doesn’t.

“It’s easy to think in the 10th that we lost an opportunity. But to keep playing, it’s a small win for us. We didn’t get a win in the win column, but I’m proud of the group out there.”

Although Altoona found a way to come within one big hit of tying the game again in extra innings, it isn’t finding a lot of hits right now. Through two games, the Curve are 13 for 65 (.200) against Harrisburg with the abbreviated series ending this afternoon.

“You don’t need to say much,” Fox said. “Just keep having good at-bats. I really think our at-bats have been pretty good, all things considered. We were able to get some hits with runners in scoring position tonight, which is a step in the right direction.”

The Curve did well to manufacture a pair of runs, once in the fifth and again in the eighth inning. With two outs in the fifth, Mitch Jebb got his team on the board as he legged out an infield single that scored Taylor.

Jebb took a turn like a baserunner would for a routine hit toward second base, but dove head first to beat Harrisburg first baseman Braden Boissiere to the bag.

“You create your own baseline until the guy has the ball in his glove making a play on you,” said Jebb, who is one of the few Curve players that aren’t struggling so far with a 3-for-8 start. “Instincts just kind of take over from what we’re taught.”

Duce Gourson scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 2.

After a tough opening night, the Curve bullpen rebounded with 5• innings. Relievers Peyton Stumbo and Emmanuel Chapman kept Harrisburg off the board before the Senators got to Chapman in the 10th inning.

Starting pitcher Connor Wietfrefe went 4ª innings and allowed just two earned runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Continentals jerseys

The Curve wore Pennsylvania Continentals jerseys, which are honoring the U.S. Continental Army and the rich history of Pennsylvania. It is in celebration of 250 years of America coming up this summer.

Altoona will wear the uniforms once a month all season.

Giveaway time

Fans started lining up as early as 1 p.m. for the game for a Paul Skenes Cy Young bobblehead giveaway. The first 1,000 fans through the gates got the giveaway. By the time the gates had opened, the line next to the third base gate was stretched out to the parking garage. Attendance was announced at 4,466 fans.

The gates opened by 5 p.m., and bobbleheads were reportedly gone by 5:10 p.m.

Up next

The series finale will be Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch with Harrisburg.

The Curve (0-2) have Easter Sunday off, along with a regular day off on Monday before going on the road to Richmond next week.