EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Completes Road Trip with Win Over Thunder

Published on June 2, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


TRENTON, N.J. - Altoona used three solo home runs and racked up 13 strikeouts in its, 5-1, win over the Trenton Thunder on Thursday night at Waterfront Park. The Curve returns home after its best road trip of the season, going 5-2, and they hand the Thunder its first series loss since late April with the win on Thursday night.

Matt Curry put the Curve on the scoreboard first in the second inning with his first Double-A home run off former Major Leaguer Kei Igawa (2-2), a solo shot off the video board in right field.

Trenton immediately countered in the second as they worked in a run in the bottom half of the inning. Jeff Locke (4-5), who had a 1-2-3 first, walked Brad Suttle, hit Cody Johnson and permitted a single to Jose Gil to load the bases. He then walked Corban Joseph to tie the game at one but still had a jam to work out of with the bases loaded and no one out.

He struck out Addison Maruszak and then induced DeAngelo Mack into an inning-ending double play to escape the jam with the game tied at one.

Altoona un-tied the game in the third when Jordy Mercer delivered a one-out single to bring home Brock Holt from third. It looked like the Curve would have a big inning as they loaded up the bases against Igawa but he struck out Travis Scott to end the inning.

They weren't done scoring though as Quincy Latimore and Mercer went back-to-back in the fifth off Igawa to extend the lead to three at, 4-1. Igawa had allowed three home runs all season in 33.0 innings entering the game on Thursday night.

Curve pitching would hold the lead the rest of the way as they combined to strike out 13 batters in the nine-inning game, which is a new season-high for a nine-inning contest. Diego Moreno worked 1.2 innings and struck out four while Michael Dubee tossed the final two frames and struck out one.

Locke earned his fourth win of the season with his 5.1 inning, three-hit performance while striking out eight. Mercer extended his hitting streak to eight games with his multi-hit game while Brock Holt led the squad with three hits in the win.

After a seven-day, seven-game road trip, the Curve (28-25) return home Friday night to open up a six-game homestand beginning at 7 p.m. at Blair County Ballpark. The first 1,000 fans through the gates on Friday night will receive a Drawstring Bag courtesy of Lakemont Park. Kids can also run the bases after Friday night's game.

Since it is the first Friday in June, it will be a FRITOS Family Friday at BCB with select individuals having the opportunity to take part in different events throughout the evening.

RHP Jared Hughes (3-2, 3.46) will take to the mound for Altoona as they return home to face the Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Portland will counter with RHP Jeremy Kehrt (0-0, 4.13) in the first game of the series. Gates will open at 6 p.m. on Friday night for the 7 p.m. game with the Sea Dogs.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 2, 2011


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