Altoona wins opener, 2-1

Brandon Waddell (pictured) threw six shutout innings to lead Altoona to a 2-1 win over Trenton in the opening game of the Eastern League finals. Waddell gave up five hits, walked nobody and fanned six, while throwing 102 pitches. The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Michael Suchy, Elvis Escobar and Mitchell Tolman all singled with two outs to give the Curve a 1-0 lead. They got a second run in the seventh when Jordan George reached on a bunt and pinch runner Casey Hughston came around on a walk, a passed ball and a single by Escobar. Trenton got a run in the eighth, but Tanner Anderson rescued Luis Heredia from a first-and-third, one out situation. Anderson then stranded the tying run on third again in the ninth.

Altoona goes for a two-game lead tomorrow with J.T. Brubaker scheduled to start.