Early Offense Holds up in Opener Win at Bowie
Published on May 25, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
BOWIE, Md. - For the second straight night, the Curve's bats did enough work early and arms did enough late to clinch victory as Altoona held off the Bowie Baysox for a 5-3 win Friday in the first game of a four-game series at Prince George's Stadium.
Like their finale with the Harrisburg Senators during which Altoona plated five in the first in a 5-4 win, the Curve opened strong on Friday before quieting down at the plate. Altoona got two runs in each of the first two innings on a combined seven hits to seize an early 4-0 lead. Brock Holt, Matt Curry, Robbie Grossman, and Jarek Cunningham all drove in runs for the Curve against Bowie's Mike Wright, making his first start in Double-A.
After Bowie got a run back in the bottom of the second, Altoona's bats went quiet. Like Thursday, when the Curve had just one hit after the first, Altoona went through the fifth hitless on Friday while the Baysox chipped away. Bowie pulled to within one run at 4-3 against Curve starter Tim Alderson but fell short of getting the one big hit they needed at multiple times.
Unlike Thursday, the Curve got a big insurance run they needed in the sixth when Jeremy Farrell crushed a Wright (0-1) offering over the left field wall and off the scoreboard to extend Altoona's advantage to 5-3.
After Alderson's exit with two gone in the fifth, Mike Colla (1-4) and Kris Harvey (S, 1) combined to close out the Baysox the rest of the way. Bowie stranded men on base in four of its final fine innings, going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position as a team on the day.
Saturday, this series continues at Prince George's Stadium with the Curve possibly facing a big league-laden Bowie lineup. With Brian Roberts already in town on a rehab assignment and Josh Barfield on the roster with the Baysox, Bowie is scheduled to get three more rehabbers Saturday night. Orioles left-hander Zach Britton (0-0, -.--) will start for the Baysox after beginning the year on the disabled list with shoulder discomfort. Baltimore infielder Mark Reynolds and outfielder Endy Chavez are set to join him for rehab stints of their own. Britton will oppose Altoona's Nathan Baker(3-4, 4.70) with first pitch set for 6:35, and airtime for on ESPN 1430 and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:05.
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