Erie SeaWolves (DET) @ Altoona Curve (PIT)
June 15, 2024
HR: Gage Workman (ERI), Jase Bowen (ALT), Brenden Dixon (ALT)
Attendance: 5,729
Time of Game: 2 hours, 59 minutes
Stadium Facts
Location: Altoona, PA
Opened: 1999
Capacity: 7,210
Level: Double A
League: Eastern
Time of Game: 2 hours, 59 minutes
Stadium Facts
Location: Altoona, PA
Opened: 1999
Capacity: 7,210
Level: Double A
League: Eastern
My longest drive between ballparks during this June trip was from Binghamton to Altoona, in West-Central Pennsylvania. It was a rather scenic drive through the Appalachian Mountains. The city of Altoona is located within the Alleghany Mountain Range. It has to be one of the smallest cities in the country that is the home of a minor league team in one of the upper two levels of affiliated baseball. But being a relatively short drive from the big league club in Pittsburgh, the area's passionate fanbase makes it an ideal location for the team.
I would say Peoples Natural Gas Field was my favorite ballpark I visited on this trip. Its location provides a couple unique and scenic aspects. First there is the mountainous backdrop in the not too far distance beyond left and center fields. Then there is an old wooden roller coaster in neighboring Lakemont Park that rises just beyond the right field wall. The amusement park appeared to be closed on this day, which I would later learn was because the park is closed for the year due to a lack of funding for maintenance. No idea if it will reopen in the future, but I would hope they at least leave the roller coaster standing. It is not just the exterior of the park that is nice. There are two separate levels of seating with a legit concourse on each level and luxury boxes on top of the second level. There is a party deck down the left field line and bleacher seating in straight away left, making this the first AA park I've been to so far this year with ample fixed seating in the outfield. Beyond that is a berm that can accommodate additional fans on nights with especially large crowds. As for concessions, I tried one of their renowned Curve Burgers, which was tasty. The Curve have a pair of mascots, including a furry yellow thing named Loco who briefly sat down in the empty seat next to me at one point. Then there is a fish appropriately named Al Tuna who would pop out of the center field wall gate whenever the Curve scored. It was a fun atmosphere all-around on this night. I really liked everything about this park.
As wild as the game in Binghamton was the night before, this one was right up there too. It was my second time seeing Erie, the Tigers AA affiliate, on this trip. Three of the same pitchers who had appeared in the game in Erie also pitched on this night, including the starter Troy Melton. And all three of them fared much worse in this game as the team allowed 10 more runs than they did in the 4-1 home win. Altoona's starter was Bubba Chandler, who recently became the Pirates top pitching prospect after Paul Skenes graduated from prospect status. Chandler did not have a great night in this one. In the third, the seven hole hitter Gage Workman worked a 12 pitch at bat that ended in a solo homer to tie the game. It was the start of a trend for Erie's bottom of the lineup. The bottom three hitters had all but one of their RBIs. The Curve answered in the bottom half of the inning on a two run homer by Jase Bowen. Chandler ran into more trouble in the fourth loading the bases on a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk. He then struck out the next two hitters, but was unable to come out unscathed as Erie's #8 hitter, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo cleared the bases with a 3 run double. #9 hitter Austin Murr followed with a RBI single which gave the SeaWolves a 5-3 lead and chased Chandler from the game. Erie would add two more in the fifth on a whacky play. With runners on first and third, Chris Meyers fouled out to right field, with the runner on third tagging and scoring. The catcher then fired to second to try and get the trailing runner, but threw it into center field allowing the runner who had started the play at first base to come all the way around to score. Erie carried a seemingly safe 8-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth. Joel Peguero came on to pitch for Erie and proceeded to get seeing eye singled to death, surrendering five hits, four of which were relatively softly hit grounders that happened to find holes. Altoona scratched out three runs to cut the lead down to a single run heading into the ninth. Jake Higginbotham came on to pitch for the SeaWolves in the bottom of the ninth, looking for his second save on my trip. It wasn't to be. Carter Bins got the next Curve rally started lining one off the wall down the third base line, just barely reaching second safely. Following a walk, Yoyner Fajardo lined a base hit to center to tie the game, setting the stage for Curve third baseman Brenden Dixon. Dixon fouled off several 0-2 pitches from Higginbotham before finally getting one he could square up as he launched a three run walk-off homer to left. Altoona won this one by a score of 11-8. 8 of the Curve's 15 hits came in the final two innings.
I think I can safely say this is the first time I've ever witnessed walk-off homers on consecutive nights in two different ballparks. Surprising enough that I'd see it happen twice during the same trip. Would it happen again the following afternoon in Harrisburg? Find out soon!
Next ballpark: FNB Field in Harrisburg, PA
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