The Altoona Curve scored five runs in the 11th inning to steal a 9-5 victory over the Bowie Baysox in game one of the final home series of 2018 in front of 2,140 at Prince George’s Stadium Friday night.
Altoona (76-59) threatened in the first inning, plating a run to snap Dean Kremer’s 12-inning scoreless streak via a Will Craig fielder’s choice. Jin-De Jhang added a two-run double in the third inning to increase the lead to 3-0, but Bowie answered in the bottom half of the frame.
After a Rylan Bannon leadoff double, Erick Salcedo continued his torrid week by grounding a first-pitch double down the right field line. Three batters later, Ryan Mountcastle took an 0-2, 2-out James Marvel offering up the middle for a RBI seeing-eye single to center field. Salcedo scored, cutting the guests’ lead to 3-2.
The Baysox (66-69) needed just two pitches to take their first lead of the game in the sixth inning. After Aderlin Rodriguez lined a single to center field to lead off the inning, Yusniel Diaz smoked his fifth home run to deep left-center field to give the hosts a 4-3 lead. Down five runs in the 11th inning, Corban Joseph lined a one-out single to center field, scoring Salcedo for the designated hitter’s first hit of the night.
Despite the no-decision, Kremer finished his 2018 campaign with a third consecutive quality start. The righty allowed three earned runs on six hits in six innings with 10 strikeouts–the most since being traded for Manny Machado at the end of July. In total, Kremer finished the year with 178 strikeouts between Bowie, Double-A Tulsa and Class-A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga.
The Baysox and Curve continue their season-ending four-game series Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. The primetime showdown is Hispanic Heritage Night, featuring the final game that the Baysox will transform into “Los Cangrejos Fantasmas.” From 5-6:30 p.m., fans can enjoy a pregame happy hour, with live Latin music, food, and drink specials, as well as a chance to mix and mingle with some of the Hispanic players on the Baysox squad.
