Grossman, Irwin Lead Curve to 11-3 Victory over 'Sens
Published on June 29, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
HARRISBURG - The fourth time was a charm for the Curve against Danny Rosenbaum as they hung six runs and nine hits on the Senators starter in an, 11-3, win on Friday night at Metro Bank Park. A six-run fifth that saw 10 Curve batters stroll to the plate put the game squarely in favor of the Curve as the victory earned them a series split. Robbie Grossman finished the night 4-for-6 and ran his hitting streak to 13 games with the four-hit day.
The Curve didn't waste time scoring on Friday night as they grabbed a run on Rosenbaum (7-5) in the first inning. Grossman led off the game with a double and moved to third two batters later when Jarek Cunningham singled into right. Matt Curry came to the plate with runners at the corners and actually struck out while Cunningham was breaking for second. The throw from 'Sens catcher Devin Ivany went towards second base to try and get Cunningham and Grossman broke home to score the game's first run.
Altoona made it 2-0 in the very next inning when the newest member of the Curve outfielder Oscar Tejeda, who joined the team on Thursday, planted his first home run as a member of the Curve (sixth overall this season) to put Altoona in front 2-0.
That's where the game stayed until the Senators' Chris Rahl homered off Phil Irwin (1-5) to start the fourth and make it a one-run game. That'd be the only run Irwin would permit on Friday night as he went a season-best seven innings while striking out six in his best start of the 2012 season.
The bats when right back to work off Rosenbaum in the very next inning as Altoona sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs with one out. Back-to-back doubles by Grossman and Brock Holt brought in the inning's first run before an RBI single by Cunningham scored Holt. Leading 4-1, Curry got in on the big inning with a double of his own that scored Cunningham from first and it became a 5-1 Curve lead.
Curry was the last batter Rosenbaum faced as he was removed in favor of reliever Rob Gilliam. Gilliam entered and dealt a wild pitch during Ramon Cabrera's at bat that moved Curry to third. The first basemen soon trotted home as a passed ball by Devin Ivany during the same at bat allowed Curry to score the game's sixth run. Cabrera eventually drew the walk and trotted around the bases when Stefan Welch clubbed his second Double-A homer to make it an 8-1 game.
Altoona was in full control beyond that but added two extra runs in the eighth and another in the ninth. Grossman's four hits led the way while Cunningham finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBI. Every starting position player reached base safely in one way or another in the 14-hit onslaught.
Winners of two straight, Altoona (37-41) now travels to Binghamton, N.Y. to take on the B-Mets beginning at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night at NYSEG Stadium. Taking the hill for the Curve in the first of four will be RHP Tim Alderson (3-3, 4.15), who looks to turn around a tough month of June with a solid start on Saturday. Opposing the right hander Alderson will be Mets pitching prospect and E.L. All-Star Zack Wheeler (7-3, 2.29), who is facing the Curve for the first time this season.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. For tickets and more information on the upcoming Curve homestand as well as the Ballpark Blockparty 2012, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Eastern League Stories from June 29, 2012
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- B-Mets Swept Away to Start Homestand, 8-5 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Altoona Gains Split with 11-3 Win over the Sens - Harrisburg Senators
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