EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Game Information: June 22, 2014

Published on June 22, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ABOUT YESTERDAY: Different day but unfortunately the same results as the Curve were once again bested in a pair of games by the Portland Sea Dogs. In the first game, Portland jumped out to a, 3-0, first-inning lead on starter Joely Rodriguez (3-6) thanks to a bases-clearing double by David Chester. On the other side of the coin, the Curve offense only struck for one run in the first game off Sea Dogs starter Brian Johnson (6-2) and it came off the bat of Willy Gar- cia in the form of his ninth home run of the season. However, that blast ended the scoring and the 'Dogs scored the game's final two runs in the fifth for a, 5-1, win. Rodriguez tossed his first complete game of the season (six innings) in the loss while Garcia also added two outfield assists to his total in 2014. In the second game, Drew Maggi led off the game with his second home run of the season and his third career in Double-A to get the Curve out in front early. However, that lead was short-lived as Portland immediately tied it in the bottom of the first and went on to score two more times in the third to build up a two-run lead. Spot starter Matt Benedict (0-5) pitch well in the game, covering 4.2 innings and giving up one earned run (three total) while striking out three. Altoona made a little late noise in the seventh when Kelson Brown singled and then scored on a pair of Sea Dogs errors. Noe Ramirez buckled down though and saved it for Portland, who won it, 3-2.

CURVE/SEA DOGS SERIES: The Curve will attempt to avoid the super-sweep at the hands of the Portland Sea Dogs in this afternoon's season series finale. Portland has won all five prior games between the two teams in 2014. FOR ALTOONA: If the Curve want to avoid being swept in the season series, it'll take a solid start from today's starter in Adrian Sampson. Sampson, who was credited with the loss in the resumed game on Friday night since he started the game back on June 11, enters play this afternoon with the second-best ERA In the 12-team Eastern League at 2.15. In his most recent outing, the Sammamish, Wash. native worked seven innings of one-run ball versus New Hampshire and left in line for his fifth win of the season. The Curve 'pen was unable to hold the lead. For more on Sampson, see page two.

FOR PORTLAND: Billy McMillon counters with Mike Augliera in the final game that these two teams will play against one another. Augliera, who was a fifth-round pick in 2012 out of SUNY - Binghamton, is in his first season at the Double-A level after spending 2013 with High-A Salem. He is not a strikeout pitcher, having only registered 28 punchouts in 76.1 innings at Double-A this season and at home this year opposing hitters have hit .318 off the New Jersey native. This month has been a rough one so far as he's registered a 9.26 ERA in three starts with opponents hitting .426 off him in 54 at bats.

I THINK THIS MIGHT BE SOME KIND OF A RECORD...: OF Willy Garcia racked up a pair of outfield assists in the first game of yesterday's twinbill with Portland to run his season total to 12. That mark is six shy of the franchise- record for outfield assists set by Starling Marte (18) back in 2011. Last season, Garcia led the Florida State League with 20 and set the Marauders franchise-record with that total.

ACCA-SCUSE ME?: The Curve bullpen was unable to convert on their 14th save of the season Thursday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, letting the 'Cats tie it in the ninth with three runs. The Curve are now 12-for-26 in save opportunities this season, which is second-worst in the league behind New Hampshire, who has failed to convert on 17 save tries (19-of-36).

I AM TITANIUM: Curve catcher Elias Diaz is enjoying a breakout season in 2014 as he continues to play well both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Diaz is hitting .307 in 54 games as the Curve's everyday catcher this season to go along with four homers and 28 RBI. Behind the dish, Diaz has committed just two miscues this season and has shown a decent arm when throwing out potential base stealers. He's hit in four straight entering play today.

THE TREBLEMAKERS: As a result of the benches clearing incident on Wednesday night in Manchester, Keon Broxton, Jarek Cunningham and Gift Ngoepe were all ejected from the game. Each of them plus Andy Vasquez and Yao-Hsun Yang will receive three game suspensions from the Eastern League. Cunningham, Ngoepe and Yang have all served their suspensions and will be active for today's series finale in Portland. Every member of the team that left their position was also fined. A total of six players plus the manager of the Fisher Cats, Bobby Meacham, were ejected on the other side of the scuffle.

ACCA-AWESOME: Adrian Sampson continued his phenomenal season on the mound in Tuesday's win over New Hampshire. The Seattle, Washington native tossed seven innings of one-run ball and saw his ERA lower to an even 2.00. However, Sampson was hit with the loss when the suspended game from June 11 was completed on Friday night since the Curve were unable to come from behind to win. His ERA, which is 2.15 after the runs were added, is second-best behind Portland's Henry Owens (1.99). Sampson will start today's series finale here in Port- land.

UNABLE TO COMPETE: Curve first baseman Stetson Allie has been placed on the Altoona DL retroactive to June 19. Allie, along with the rest of the team, was involved in the benches-clearing incident on Wednesday in New Hampshire. IF Kelson Brown has bene activated from the DL (right ankle sprain) to keep the roster at 25.

THE HIGH NOTES: The Curve pitching staff has done a nice job all season long of keeping the ball from leaving the ballpark. Entering play today, the Curve pitching staff has allowed 36 home runs in 623.0 innings so far this season. That's second-fewest in the league only to Portland's 30.

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Eastern League Stories from June 22, 2014


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