MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped their second straight game in as many days, falling 3-2 to the Altoona Curve.
Jordan George gave the game its first run, slamming a solo shot over the right field fence for Altoona in the third, one of the few mistakes during a sterling night from New Hampshire Starting Pitcher Hector Perez.
New Hampshire had a golden chance to make that moment a footnote in the fifth, but found their momentum stunted after a poor bunt from Andrew Guillotte allowed Altoona to easily tag Connor Panas out at home.
The Fisher Cats left the inning with just one run and left two men on in the sixth.
Altoona capitalized, taking the lead back in the seventh following the departure of Perez. Fisher Cats Reliever Kirby Snead left the contest after recording just one out, allowing two runs before his departure. Zach Jackson stopped the bleeding for New Hampshire, but the damage was done.
Meanwhile, Altoona Hurler James Marvel lived up to his last name, giving up just four hits and a walk in his seven-inning start.
Max Pentecost brought the Fisher Cats back within a run in the eighth with a one-run home run off Sean Keselica, followed by two consecutive baserunners. However, New Hampshire ultimately squandered this opportunity as well as Forrest Wall tried to stretch a scorching grounder toward short only to be caught at home.
With the result, Marvel notched his first career Double-A win, climbing to 9-7 on the year including Florida State League action. Snead earned the loss, falling to 3-3 in the Eastern League this year.
Matt Eckelman got his ninth Eastern League save of the year, recording the final out of the eighth and retiring the side in the ninth.
The series concludes on Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. contest pitting New Hampshire’s T.J Zeuch (8-4, 3.12 ERA) against Altoona’s Eduardo Vera (4.48 ERA)