Curve Fall in 12
June 30, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
READING, Pa. -- The Phillies' Kevin Mahar ended his torrid June with a two-out walk-off home run in the 12th inning Tuesday for a 6-5 victory over the Altoona Curve.
Mahar turned on a 3-2 fastball from right-hander Sean Smith and sent a bolt into the night in left for his eighth home run and sixth in June. He finished the month with a .378 batting average, half of his 26 RBIs and 17 runs scored in 20 games.
Smith (3-3) took the loss for the Curve (27-51), who fell to 4-10 against the Phillies (44-32), who won their fourth straight.
Both teams put up some early crooked numbers. The Curve scored five in the second, a Miles Durham two-run triple and a Brian Friday two-run homer the big blows.
The two had batted a combined .163 with one RBI over their previous 10 games.
The Phillies came back with four in the third, delivering five straight two-out hits, the key blow a two-run single by Brian Stavisky. Neil Sellers and Mahar added RBI singles and the Curve committed three errors in the inning.
It stayed that way till the ninth, when pinch-hitter Jeremy Slayden coaxed a leadoff walk out of hard-throwing right-hander Dustin Molleken after looking at two straight strikes to begin the at-bat.
Quintin Berry, up to sacrifice, fouled off two straight bunt attempts and found himself down in the count 1-2. He drove the next pitch to the gap in right-center for a tying triple, his third hit of the night.
With the defense playing in, Molleken got Brad Harman and Michael Taylor swinging at third strikes. Sellers flied out to the wall in center to end the inning.
The run in the ninth was the first allowed by Altoona's bullpen in 17.1 innings.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from June 30, 2009
- McLeary Wins First, Fisher Cats Edge Mets 3-2 Tuesday Night - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Niesen's Walks Hurt B-Mets in 3-2 Loss - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Curve Fall in 12 - Altoona Curve
- Erie Slips Past Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Aeros Host Singles Party In Bowie - Bowie Baysox
- Lowrance Powers Sens to 4-3 Win - Harrisburg Senators
- Portland's Winning Streak Snapped at Three - Portland Sea Dogs
- Defenders Falls 4-3 - Connecticut Defenders
- Aeros Take Rain-Shortened Contest, 5-1 - Akron RubberDucks
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Bleich Promoted to Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Akron Aeros roster move - Akron RubberDucks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
