EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Game Information May 13, 2014

Published on May 13, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ABOUT SUNDAY: The Curve were finally able to grab a win versus the Akron RubberDucks on Sunday afternoon with a, 7-4, triumph to snap a nine-game losing streak versus Akron in the head-to-head series. Altoona got out to an early lead and never looked back thanks to back-to-back home runs from Alen Hanson and Mel Rojas, Jr. in the first inning. A.J. Morris (3-0) pitched with a lead the entire game and finished 5.2 innings while giving up three runs and striking out four. The Curve offense didn't just stop after the first, scoring a run with two outs in the third thanks to a Stetson Allie single. There was more two-out magic in the fourth when Gift Ngoepe singled home a run with two down. Hanson followed suit and grabbed a two-run double to extend the lead to, 6-0. Akron did get a few runs back but the Curve bullpen was able to hold the line for their third save of the season.

CURVE/B-METS SERIES: This is the first of three series versus the Binghamton Mets in 2014 and the beginning of the only trip that the Curve make to Binghamton this season. The Curve hold a slim advantage in the all-time series overall but have a losing record when playing games at NYSEG Stadium.

FOR ALTOONA: Returning to the mound for the first time in nearly a month for the Curve will be LHP Zack Dodson, who was activated off the disabled list today. Dodson, 23, was warming up for his start on April 21 versus Harrisburg but did not make the start as he felt discomfort in his left oblique. He was placed on the disabled list shortly thereaf- ter and has not pitched in a game since. Today's start will be his third of the season and his fourth overall appear- ance in 2014. In his last start, which came on April 14, Dodson blanked the Harrisburg Senators on City Island for 5.2 innings while scattering six hits. For Dodson, today is a return to where he made his Double-A debut in Bingham- ton on August 6, 2013 in the second game of a doubleheader. For more on Dodson, see page two.

FOR BINGHAMTON: To the bump in the lid lifter for the Binghamton Mets goes RHP Hansel Robles, who will be making his sixth start of the season for Binghamton. Robles, 23, has been a tale of two cities so far in 2014. At home in Binghamton, Robles is 0-0 with a 1.86 ERA and has an opponent's batting average against of .188 in two starts. In his three starts away from NYSEG Stadium, Robles is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and has allowed eight runs in 16 innings while opponents have hit .297 off him. This is his first season at the Double-A level after spending a majority of the 2013 season with High-A St. Lucie in the Florida State League where he was 5-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 16 games (15 starts).

EASTBOUND AND DOWN: Altoona plays its first opponent from the Eastern League's Eastern division tonight when they take on the Binghamton Mets. It'll be an aberration more so than the norm for the Curve, who will go back to playing Western division opponents for the next four series following this one with the B-Mets. Altoona won't see another Eastern division opponent until the New Hampshire Fisher Cats make their only visit to Curve, Pa. at the end of May.

WE WANT SOME 'MO: RHP A.J. Morris picked up his third win of the season on Sunday afternoon to tie him for the club lead with fellow starter Adrian Sampson. He went through his first 3.1 innings scoreless on Sunday did Morris before allowing a home run to Joe Wendle in the fourth, which ended his scoreless innings streak at 22 innings. That mark is a season-best for any Curve pitcher and fell 1.2 innings shy of the franchise-best mark that Derek Hankins put together in 2010 for the eventual E.L. champions.

KEEP ON KEEPING KEON: Curve left fielder Keon Broxton has enjoyed the month of May, batting .432 in 12 games this month with four doubles, two triples, three homers and five RBI to go along with 11 runs scored. His 11 runs scored are seven more than he had in all of April (17 games) and he had a 10-game on-base streak end on Sunday due to a fly out in a pinch hit appearance. Broxton hit .146 in 17 games during April with no extra-base hits. DR. DREW: Utility player Drew Maggi went 1-for-3 on Saturday after a day off on Friday. Along with the bat, Maggi's speed produced a team-high ten steals. This season, Maggi has a .317 batting average and 15 walks, which gives him a .453 on-base percentage.

LEADERS OF THE PACK, VROOM VROOM: The following Curve players rank among the league leaders entering today's game with Binghamton: Elias Diaz (.341 BA, 4th), Alen Hanson (4 3B, T-1st), A.J. Morris (1.80 ERA, T-1st), Mel Rojas, Jr. (26 RBI, T-5th) and Adrian Sampson (2.27 ERA, 4th).

MAGNIFICENT MEL: OF Mel Rojas, Jr. was the team's primary cleanup hitter for most of the month of April before the arrival of Matt Curry before the series in Akron. He's been a solid producer no matter where he's hit, going 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored in the win over Akron on Sunday batting in the three spot. Rojas is batting .302 with six doubles, one triple, three homers and a team-leading 26 RBI in 35 games this season. Like others on the team, he's enjoyed this month so far, batting .367 with two homers and 11 RBI in 13 games. He had 15 RBI in 22 games in April.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS: The new month has not only been good to Keon Broxton and Mel Rojas, Jr. but to many Curve players at the plate. Through 12 games this month, the Curve are batting .286 as a team. In the 22 games during the first month of the season, Altoona hit .235 as a team.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

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