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Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Game Information: August 31, 2014

August 31, 2014 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ABOUT YESTERDAY: Stetson Allie clubbed a two-run, 11th inning homer to lift the Curve to a, 3-1, win and simul- taneously knock the Bowie Baysox from playoff contention. It was the 20th home run of the season for Allie, who becomes the first Curve player to hit 20 or more homers in a season since 2005. Andy Vasquez drove in the game's first run in the first inning before Bowie tied it off starter Angel Sanchez. That run was the only one that Sanchez al- lowed in the game as he registered his second quality start with the Curve since joining the Pirates' organization. He finished 6.2 innings and scattered five hits while waking and striking out a pair. Allie (2-for-5) and Vasquez (2-for-4) accounted for four of the team's nine hits in the win on Saturday night.

CURVE/BAYSOX SERIES: Altoona concludes the 2014 season with a four-game series in Bowie. This season, the Curve hold a 10-7 record over the Baltimore Orioles' Double-A affiliate and successfully played the role of spoiler with the win on Saturday night. Because of the Curve's win on Saturday, Bowie has been eliminated from playoff conten- tion even if they win the last two games of the year and Akron falls. The 'Ducks hold the tiebreaker in the season- series.

FOR ALTOONA: Looking to end his regular season on a high note on Sunday will be Tom Harlan, who makes his 11th appearance (10th start). The San Bruno, Calif. native has had success here in Bowie against the Baysox, allowing one unearned run over 6.1 innings here on July 25 in a win. In his last start on August 26, Harlan walked a season-high four batters and allowed two runs in 5.1 innings in a no decision versus Richmond. Harlan, along with tomorrow's start Joely Rodriguez and six other Pirates' farmhands, will represent the organization in the Arizona Fall League this offseason. For more on Harlan, see page two.

FOR BOWIE: Facing the Curve for a fourth and final time this season will be Baysox lefty Anthony Vasquez. Vasquez has struggled in his previous three starts against the Curve, going 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA with 10 runs (nine earned) allowed on 18 hits in 16.1 innings. It's been feast or famine as well with Vasquez as he's also struck out 16 Curve hitters in those same 16. innings. He's been solid in his last two outings overall, going a combined 2-0 with four runs (three earned) in 14 innings in wins over Reading and Binghamton. Home has not been where his heart is this season though as he's 3-3 with a 6.34 ERA in 10 games (seven starts) compared to 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA on the road.

STEALING IS GOOD IN THIS CASE: Entering play on Sunday, the Curve have stolen 157 bases as a team, which is now a franchise-best mark. The prior record of 155 was held by the 2005 Curve, who predominately had 90 of those steals come from two players in Rajai Davis (45) and Rich Thompson (45). This year's team leader is Drew Maggi, who has 37 entering play today. That mark is second-most in single-season history behind the aforementioned duo of Davis/Thompson with 45 each in 2005. This year's team has five players with 10+ steals and three with 20 or more.

UNFLATTERING RECORD: With the loss on Friday night, the Curve matched the franchise record for most losses (80) in a single season. The mark ties the 2009 club who finished 62-80 and features many players who went on to play in the Big Leagues including Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata and Jean Machi, among others.

BACK IN PLAQUES: Prior to Thursday's home finale, five Curve players were honored with the team's postseason awards. Leading the charge was Altoona's former catcher Elias Diaz, who was named the team MVP after hitting .328 as Altoona's everyday catcher. Joining Diaz is his current teammate in Triple-A Indianapolis Adrian Sampson, who was named the Pitcher of the Year after he went 10-5 with a 2.55 ERA. Sampson's ten wins were the most on the Curve and his 2.55 ERA ranks second in the league. Kenn Kasparek was named the Fireman of the Year after his fantastic season as the closer where he gathered a team-best 12 saves. Drew Maggi earned the "Unsung Hero" award after playing in six of the nine positions and has been a consistent threat in the lineup. Willy Garcia received the "Iron Man" award thanks to his year with the bat and his franchise-best 19 outfield assists. All five of the players honored were also named mid-season All-Stars.

FALLING FOR YOU: The rosters for the 2014 Arizona Fall League were announced late Tuesday afternoon and the Curve will be well represented in this year's offseason league. Of the eight Pirates prospects heading over to the Grand Canyon State, seven of them have put on a Curve uniform this season while four of them are still in Curve, Pa. Josh Bell, Elias Diaz, Dan Gamache, Tom Harlan, Nick Kingham, Joely Rodriguez and Adrian Sampson were all selected to go and will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Tyler Glasnow was the only member of the eight to not have played in Altoona during 2014. Pirates' bench coach Jeff Bannister will manage the Scottsdale club.

CLEAR THE DECK, CANNONBALL COMING: With Stetson Allie's 20th home run of the season on Saturday night in Bowie, the Curve have now hit 119 homers, which is second most in the Eastern League. It's the first time since the 2007 season that the team has eclipsed the 100 home run mark. Currently, the 119 home runs are now fourth-most in a single season with the most being 141 from the '05 Curve. Additionally, this year's team currently has five play- ers with double-digit home runs, which is the second time in franchise history that it's happened. The 2004 team had six players in double figures while the '05 team had four. Allie's 20th home run of the season also marked the first since 2005 that a Curve player hit 20 or more homers when both Jose Bautista and Josh Bonifay both eclipsed 20 HRs. This season's club still has a shot at a duo with 20 or more if Willy Garcia can hit a pair over the final two games of the season.

BROXTON BOMBS: In 25 games (82 at bats) this month, Keon Broxton is hitting .341 with four doubles, three triples, three homers, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored. It's his second-best month this season only to May where he batted .374 in 31 games. Since the break, Broxton is hitting for a .307 clip and has seven homers in 123 AB (had seven in 272 AB before the break). The outfielder has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games after he was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning of the first game of the series on Friday. Earlier this week, Broxton was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the first time this season.

BIG WILLY STYLE: Outfielder Willy Garcia has slugged 18 home runs this season, which ties his career high from when he was with West Virginia in 2012 and he leads the team in RBI with 63. Since June 1, Garcia has hit .303 (81-for-267) with 17 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs and 40 RBI.

ARMAGEDDON: By throwing out Blake Miller at the plate to preserve the one-run lead on Tuesday night, Willy Garcia notched his 19th outfield assist of the season to take claim of the franchise record. Current Pirates outfielder and 2011 Eastern League Rookie of the Year Starling Marte held the record previously with 18. Garcia's career-high in outfield assists in a single season in 20, set last year in Bradenton.

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