Akron 11, Altoona 6

Akron 11, Altoona 6
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ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) -- The Akron Aeros scored six runs in the first inning and withstood an Altoona rally to beat the Curve 11-6 Friday night, taking a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Eastern League division series.
The Curve scored six runs in the fifth to get within 8-6. Aeros reliever Jose Vargas struck out Brett Roneberg and Jose Castillo to end the rally.
Vargas got the win after starter Kyle Denney gave up five runs over 4 1-3 innings.
Altoona starter John VanBenschoten failed to make it out of the first, allowing six runs on six hits.
Ryan Church's three-run double started Akron's scoring, and Victor Valencia added a two-run double later in the first. Tyler Minges homered for Akron in the fifth.
Altoona's fifth-inning rally included RBI doubles by Roneberg, Chris Duffy, Shawn Garrett and Chris Shelton.
The teams combined for 31 hits, 16 by Altoona. Shaun Skrehot went 4-for-4 for the Curve, while Minges and Grady Sizemore had three hits apiece for Akron.