Classic Ball Game at Harrisburg Today
by Rodger M. Wood
The Altoona/Harrisburg day game Wednesday, May 19th was a classic pitchers' duel until LHB Rhett Wiseman hit a 2-run HR off Curve reliever Will Gardner in the bottom of the 7th inning.
Rhett Wiseman Hits 7th Inning HR
Senators RHP Sterling Sharp battled a predominantly left-handed hitting Curves batting order for 6 IP, walking one, striking out 5 batters, and allowing only 3 hits.
Sterling Sharp Throws 6 Shutout Innings
LHP Alberto Baldanado struck out 6 batters and shutout Curve hitters in the 7th and 8th Innings to get the win, his second of the 2021 season. Frankie Bartow closed the game out in the 9th getting his 3rd save of the season.
Alberto Baldanado Strikes Out 6 in 7th and 8th
Curve's RHP starter Travis McGregor dueled Sharp for 5 innings, throwing one hit ball, 7 K, 2 BB. RHP Will Gardner came in in relief in the 6th and allowed Wisema's the break through HR in the bottom of 7th.
Travis McGregor Throws 5 Shutout Innings
Batting 5th in the batting order, Harrisburg 1B Drew Mendoza scored the winning run and got two BB.
LHB Drew Mendoza Swings Away in 7th
Altoona prospect 2B Ji-hwan Bae, turned a double play in the 3rd inning and got a single and stolen base in 4 AB.
2B Ji-hwan Bae turns doubleplay in 2nd Inning.
While SS O'Neil Cruz struggled at the plate striking out twice, and leaving two base runners on, he sparked at shortstop, starting a DP in the second, and making several other fine defensive plays.
O'Neil Cruz sparked on defense
Although cleanup hitter Mason Martin struck out three AB, he's hitting 304, 3 HR, 10 RBI in 46 AB and sprung with authority in 4 AB. He is a batter pitchers will learn to respect as he gets more AA - exposure.
Mason Martin hits away in the 7th
Good pitching silenced the hitters in this early season game, but as the weather grows warmer the bats will wake up. It was good to see good defense combined with good pitching dominated a ball game again. That combined with a warm spring afternoon sun, the smell of hot dogs, and fresh air in a wholesome environment made folks feel good again.