Ponies Comeback Falls Short against Curve in Series Finale

Altoona, PA – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies fell to the Altoona Curve 8-5 in the rubber game of a five-game series Sunday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Altoona’s six-run fourth inning highlighted by a grand slam from Curve left fielder Chris Sharpe proved to be too much for the Ponies to overcome.

The Rumble Ponies made a valiant comeback with a Jason Krizan 3-run double in the eighth that pulled them to within 7-5. Down 8-5 in the ninth, they brought the tying run to the plate before Quinn Brodey grounded into a force out to end the game.

Altoona had three homers on the evening including a solo homer from Jared Oliva in the third, Sharpe’s 2-out grand slam in the fourth, and a solo homer from Arden Pabst to lead off the eighth. Austin McGeorge (0-3) was charged with six runs, only one earned, over three and two thirds as he took the loss in his second start of the season.

The Rumble Ponies got on the board first in every game of the series. Sunday night it was Barrett Barnes who had a long two-run homer in the first to left that put Binghamton up 2-0 against Altoona all-star starter James Marvel. Barnes for the series hit .333 (6-18) with three homers and seven RBI.

Marvel (9-5) though held the Ponies in check after Barnes went yard. He allowed just three hits and two runs over seven innings for his Eastern League best ninth win of the year.

The Rumble Ponies continue their eight-game road trip Monday night against the Erie SeaWolves. First pitch is at 7:05PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:50PM.

POSTGAME NOTES: Altoona wins this five-game series over four days 3-2 and the season series 6-4…Barnes now has a team-leading nine homers along with 42 RBI (second on team) for the season.