Curve Lose to Phillies, 7-5
May 5, 2006 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA - The Altoona Curve(18-10) lost back-to-back games for only the second time in 2006, falling to the Reading Phillies 7-5 at Blair County Ballpark. Adam Boeve(pictured), who was named the Eastern League Player of the Month earlier in the day, went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Curve offense. The paid attendance of 5,720 enjoyed a visit from retro celebrity Erik Estrada and featured the largest walk-up crowd in the history of Blair County Ballpark.
The Curve wasted no-time on Friday night, jumping in front with a first-inning rally. Consecutive singles from Javier Guzman, Craig Stansberry and Brett Roneberg scored the Curve's first run, before two more singles from Rafael Alvarez and Brandon Chaves chased home another pair of runners. The first of three-errors by Reading second baseman Tim Moss later allowed Alvarez to score and push the Altoona lead to 4-0.
Reading chipped away at the lead scoring once in the fourth and twice more in the fifth to cut the Curve advantage to 4-3. An inning later, Phillies pitcher Scott Mathieson smashed a two-run homerun, only his second career hit, to give Reading their first lead of the night at 5-4.
The lead wouldn't last long however, because in the bottom of the frame the Curve once again took advantage of Phillies fielding blunders, as Chaves got his second RBI of the night, scoring Adam Boeve from third. Boeve had singled to start the frame, and moved to third following two more errors from Moss.
After matching zeros in the seventh and eighth, the Phillies scored twice in the ninth off Curve reliever Chris Hernandez(1-1), to pull ahead 7-5. Reading reliever Nick Mattioni set Altoona down in order in the bottom of the ninth, to close out the game and pick up his third save of the season.
The Curve will look to rebound from the loss when they take on the Phillies in the middle game of a three-game set on Saturday. Left-hander Josh Shortslef(4-0, 1.86) will toe the rubber for Altoona, and will be opposed by fellow south-paw Daniel Haigwood (1-1,3.16). Great seats are still available for the 5:05 start and can be purchased in person at the Blair County Ballpark box office, over the phone by calling the Curve toll-free at 877-99-Curve or by CLICKING HERE.
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