Curve bullpen unable to hold lead after Chen’s solid six innings | News, Sports, Jobs

The Altoona Curve faced a tough loss on Tuesday afternoon against the Somerset Patriots, despite a strong performance from starting pitcher Po-Yu Chen. Chen threw a season-long six innings, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk, with three strikeouts. However, the Curve bullpen struggled, giving up six runs in the seventh and eighth innings, leading to a 7-4 defeat at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The game started with a one-hour, 33-minute rain delay before Chen took the mound. Somerset took an early lead with an RBI double in the fourth inning, but Altoona responded with four runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-1 lead. Tres Gonzalez, Brenden Dixon, Connor Scott, and Wyatt Hendrie all contributed to the scoring for the Curve.

Unfortunately, the Patriots rallied in the seventh inning, scoring four runs off the Curve bullpen. Valentin Linarez struggled on the mound, allowing two inherited runners to score and giving up two runs of his own. Despite Eddy Yean pitching a scoreless final inning, the damage had been done.

Fans who braved the rain delay were offered the opportunity to exchange their tickets for any other 2024 regular-season game, excluding July 4. The Curve will look to bounce back in their next game, with Drake Fellows set to start against Brock Selvidge.