ALTOONA, PA (6/16/16) - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats got a critical ninth-inning homer from Matt Dean but couldn't hang on to the lead Thursday night, dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The Fisher Cats (29-36) didn't record a single out in the bottom of the ninth, and had three innings ended by double plays. The Curve (35-30) survived their closer's first blown save of the season and mounted a rally in the ninth to top New Hampshire. The game started after an 86-minute delay, forced by driving rains in Altoona.

Altoona opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against Fisher Cats starter Jeremy Gabryszwski. With two outs, Austin Meadows blasted a pitch form Gabryszwski over the right field wall for a solo homer, putting Altoona in front 1-0.

New Hampshire got ahead in the top of the ninth against closer Montana DuRapau (W, 2-0), who walked leadoff man Melky Mesa. Matt Dean then powered one over the right field fence for a two-run blast, giving New Hampshire the 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Altoona answered against Fisher Cats closer Wil Browning (L, 1-2). Meadows led off with a double, and Edwin Espinal blooped a single to right, leaving Meadows at third. Pinch runner Harold Ramirez entered for Espinal, as Browning faced off against Jin-De Jhang. The catcher smashed a double to right, scoring Meadows and advancing Ramirez to third base. With Eric Wood at the plate, Browning's first pitch was let through by catcher Wilkin Castillo for a passed ball, and Ramirez scooted home for the winning run.

Gabryszwski took a no-decision, allowing a run on four hits and a walk over seven innings while fanning a season-best eight. Colt Hynes surrendered one hit and one walk in an inning of work. Browning took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a wild pitch without recording an out.

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Posted 7/10/16