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 Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Game Informatio

September 1, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


YESTERDAY: The Curve defeated the Binghamton Mets, 9-4, thanks to a four-run fifth inning. Binghamton took a 2-0 lead through three innings, but Stetson Allie put Altoona ahead with a three-run homer in the fourth. The Mets re- claimed the lead in the fifth with two runs, and the Curve responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Erich Weiss hit a two-run single and Barrett Barnes and Edwin Espinal followed with run-scoring hits. Tyler Eppler allowed four runs (two earned) over seven innings. Brett McKinney and Montana DuRapau each pitched a scoreless inning.

TONIGHT: The Curve play their final regular-season home game of the 2016 season and the finale of a four-game series against the Binghamton Mets, Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. The B-Mets took two games in a three- game series at PNG Field twice this year in their two trips, once from June 3-5 and again from June 27-29. Altoona went 5-1 in Binghamton this year, including a three-game sweep from June 21-23. FOR ALTOONA: Right-hander Alex McRae makes his 15th Double-A start and second against the B-Mets. Last time out, McRae pitched seven innings and alllowed two runs in a no-decision against Erie on Saturday. He last faced the B-Mets on June 21 in Binghamton, when he allowed two earned runs over 5.2 innings in his first Double-A win. Over his last nine games, including eight starts, since July 14, McRae has gone 5-2 with a 2.73 ERA (17 ER/56.0 IP) after going 2-4 with a 10.25 ERA in first six starts.

McRae was promoted to the Curve on June 10 from A-Adv. Bradenton, where he went 3-4 with a 2.69 ERA in twelve starts. McRae is in his third pro season after being selected in the tenth round in 2014 by the Pirates out of Jacksonville University, where he was a two-way player (pitcher, third base, first base, designated hitter). For more on McRae, see page two. FOR BINGHAMTON: Right-hander Joe Shaw makes his Double-A debut for the B-Mets. He made 23 starts this year for the Single-A Columbia Fireflies. Last time out, he allowed one run over 5.2 innings against Charleston last Thurs- day. Shaw was drafted in the 12th round last year by the Mets out of Dallas Baptist. PLAYOFF HUNT: The Curve are 13 games over .500. Altoona, Akron and Harrisburg are still in the chase for the two postseason spots from the Western Division. The Curve's "Magic Number" to clinch a playoff spot is currently three, and the "Magic Number" to clinch the division is currently four. The Curve took over first place in the division for the first time on June 26, and have held that spot in the standings for 52 of their 59 games since. Last year, the Curve won the Western Division Wild Card and went to the playoffs for the first time since their E.L. title run in 2010. They have not appeared in consecutive postseasons since the first four playoff trips in franchise history in four straight years from 2003-06. COMEBACK CURVE: The Curve have outscored opponents 124-86 in the 8th inning or later this season and have 36 total come-from-behind wins. The Curve have won seven times this year after trailing through eight innings, the most in the league. The three closest teams in that category, New Hampshire, Richmond and Reading, have each done it four times. DU-RAP IT UP: Altoona closer Montana DuRapau leads active Eastern League relievers with 22 saves this year, second-most overall, sits first with 42 games finished and fourth in total games pitched with 49. His 22 saves are tied for fourth-most in a single season in Altoona franchise history. He is tied for the second-most saves for a Curve pitcher in a season since 2007 behind only the 24 by Noah Krol in 2011. The Curve are 57-2 when leading heading into the ninth inning.

BOMBS AWAY: Curve outfielder Stetson Allie now sits in third place on the Curve's all-time list with 52 home runs, dating back to 2014. Allie moved ahead of Ray Sadler with his 42nd career homer on May 27 at Bowie for third all- time. Josh Bonifay and Adam Hyzdu both share the franchise record with 55 homers hit while wearing an Altoona jersey. Dating back to the start of the 2014 season, Allie leads the Eastern League in home runs, ahead of Jake Fox (49), Quincy Latimore (45), Dean Green (41), Dylan Cozens (38), Rhys Hoskins (37), Steven Moya (35). BARNES BOUNCING BACK: After hitting just one homer through his first 100 games, Barrett Barnes hit four home runs in six games from August 9-16 and has hit eight homers in 19 games since August 9. He hit .249 in his first 70 games through July 4, but has since raised his average to .310, fifth-best in the league. In his last 49 games since July 5, Barnes has hit .393 (66/168), tops in the E.L. during that span, with eight homers, 14 doubles and 31 RBIs. Barnes has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week twice in the month of August, winning the honor for the week of August 15 and was named Player of the Week again on Monday morning. PROSPECT WATCH: The Curve roster currently features six of MLB.com's Mid-Season Top 30 Pirates Prospects: Kevin Nemwan (4), Nick Kingham (10), Clay Holmes (11), Brandon Waddell (19), Tyler Eppler (21) and Barrett Barnes (26). This year's team previously included four other players ranked in MLB.

com's top 30, including Tyler Glasnow (1), Austin Meadows (2), Elias Diaz (9), Dovydas Neverauskas (23), Jose Osuna (28) and Edgar Santana (29), plus Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez, who were ranked fifth and sixth respec- tively prior to being traded to Toronto in July.

Overall Record ..................................... 74-61

Home ............................................ 42-25

Road ............................................. 32-36 Place (E.L. Western) .................................1st Games Ahead/Behind ...........................+2.0 Streak..........................................................W1 Last 5 .......................................................... 3-2 Last 10 ........................................................ 6-4 2016 vs. Binghamton .............................. 9-6

at Altoona ........................................ 4-5

at Binghamton ................................ 5-1 All-time vs. Binghamton ................... 83-80

at Altoona ................................... 42-37

at Binghamton ........................... 40-43 '16 Home Attendance .................... 268,083 Home Openings .........................................66 Average Attendance ............................4,124


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