AKRON, Ohio — The Curve dropped the final game of the first half of the season, 4-3, to the Akron RubberDucks on Sunday afternoon.

The Curve will begin the second half of the season with a blank slate on Tuesday at PNG Field against the Reading Fightin Phils.

Akron took a 1-0 lead with an RBI single from Alfonsin Rosario, but the Curve quickly responded in the top of the second.

Omar Alfonzo singled and advanced to second when Ivan Brethowr walked. Matt King drove them both in with a single to right. The 2-1 lead held for the Curve until the ‘Ducks took the lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Jacob Cozart.

The Curve drew even on an RBI single from Duce Gourson in the seventh inning. Gourson, who stole two bases in the game, is up to 20 stolen bases in 62 games this year.

Akron’s Jose Devers hit an opposite field solo homer in the eighth inning off Treyson Peters to provide the final margin.

The Curve finished the first half of the season with a 31-38 record. Altoona will send RHP Matt Ager to the mound in the series opener with RHP Braydon Tucker going for Reading.

Saturday’s game

The Curve bullpen covered all 10 innings in a 3-1 win over the Akron RubberDucks on Saturday night.

Brandon Neeck started the bullpen game for the Curve and struck out three in two innings. Akron plated the game’s first run on an RBI single from Cameron Barstad. Alessandro Ercolani followed with 2 1/3 scoreless frames in which he struck out four batters and walked four. Jaycob Deese turned in one of his best outings of the season in relief, setting down all eight hitters faced with a pair of strikeouts. Deese combined with Landon Tomkins to retire 14 straight hitters to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Derek Berg knocked in two runs with a double down the left field line with two outs. Berg accounted for all three runs batted in and recorded two hits in the win.

Tomkins returned to the mound in the 10th for his third inning of relief and allowed a leadoff single, breaking a stretch of 15 straight hitters retired by Curve pitching.

Tomkins came back with a pair of strikeouts, giving him a career-high seven punchouts, and with two outs, Wuilfredo Antunez attempted a steal of second base and as the throw went to second, Juan Benjamin wandered off third. Jack Brannigan quickly cut off the throw and threw back home where Berg picked Benjamin off third for the final out of the game.

Tomkins’ seven strikeout performance tied the season-high for any Curve reliever this season. Altoona pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts in the victory and five walks.