Curve falter against Portland
August 13, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
PORTLAND, ME- Jose Tabata collected four hits in four at-bats and scored a pair of runs, but the Portland Sea Dogs spoiled his big night with a 5-3 victory over the Altoona Curve before a sellout crowd of 7,368 Wednesday evening at Hadlock Field in Portland.
Tabata, the 20-year old center fielder who was one of four players acquired by the Pirates in the recent six-player trade with the Yankees, singled in his first three at-bats before recording a double in his final at-bat in the top of the eighth. After going just 2-for-13 over his first three games in a Curve uniform, Tabata is 6-for-8 in the first two games of the Portland series.
Unfortunately for Altoona, only three other players -- James Boone, Shelby Ford and Jonel Pacheco -- were able to record hits in the contest and the Sea Dogs' trio of starter Kris Johnson and relievers T.J. Large and Daniel Bard combined to strike out 16 Curve hitters, which sets a dubious franchise record.
Johnson (8-7) carried a shutout into the sixth inning before allowing a pair of runs, but his 5 2/3 innings were enough to end a personal four-game losing streak. Bard struck out four of the five batters he faced to record his fourth save. The hard-throwing right-hander consistently was throwing his fastball in the upper 90s and one pitch in the top of the ninth hit 100 m.p.h. on the speed pitch display in right-center field at Hadlock Field.
Derek Hankins (1-9) remained winless in his last 12 starts after allowing five runs and nine hits over his six innings of work. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out six, but allowed two home runs -- solo shots by Mickey Hall in the first and Josh Reddick in the sixth.
The loss -- Altoona's third straight -- drops the club's record to 3-4 over the first seven games of a season-long, 11-game road trip to Harrisburg, Portland and New Hampshire. The Curve (55-70) are now just two losses away from posting the franchise's first losing season since 2001.
Portland (64-57) was able to maintain its two-game lead over both Binghamton and Connecticut in the race for the E.L. North wild-card spot.
The Curve will look to avoid a three-game series sweep Thursday afternoon against Portland. First pitch is set for noon. Altoona will turn to right-hander Christian Castorri (1-2, 6.86) against Sea Dogs' lefty Dave Gassner (5-5, 7.14). Fans can hear all the action on the Curve Radio Network and on-line at AltoonaCurve.com starting at 11:45 a.m. with the Curve GameDay Show presented by the Hotel Belmar and Budget Beverage.
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