Altoona Curve Game Notes
Published on April 18, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
Erie SeaWolves (6-3) at Altoona Curve (0-8)
Saturday, April 18 - 5:05 p.m.
Blair County Ballpark- Altoona, PA
Game #9 Home Game #3
LAST NIGHT: Despite the Curve bullpen tossing 8.1 shutout innings, a turbulent first inning from starter Jared Hughes was enough to put Altoona behind for the entire contest, as they dropped their eighth straight game. Hughes allowed three runs in the top of the first inning and that was enough to propel Erie past Altoona, 3-1.
TONIGHT'S GAME AT A GLANCE: The Altoona Curve will look for their first win of the 2009 season tonight as they take on the Erie SeaWolves (AA - Detroit) in the third game of a four-game set at Blair County Ballpark...This is the first time in franchise history that Altoona has started a season 0-8...The Curve are currently the only team in all of professional baseball without a victory this season. Last night, the Stockton Ports (Advanced - A, Oakland) won their first game of the year, making Altoona the only winless team in the minors.
TONIGHT'S STARTING PITCHERS: Altoona's Mike Crotta will make his second start of the season tonight. In his last outing (Saturday), Crotta tossed 5.0 shutout innings against the SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park. The righty did not factor in the decision.
Erie will send right-hander Luis Marte to the mound. The 22-year old was signed by the Tigers as a non-drafted free agent in 2005...In his first outing of the year (4/13) vs. Bowie, Marte suffered the loss, permitting a pair of earned runs over 5.2 innings of work.
CURVE/ERIE SERIES: Tonight is the seventh of 25 meetings between Altoona and Erie. With the unbalanced schedule in the E.L., Erie will be the Curve's most common opponent in 2009. In 2008, Altoona sported an 11-7 record against the SeaWolves...So far this season, Altoona is 0-6 against the Howlers.
SERIESIOUSLY SPEAKING: Through six games of the season series, Erie's Scott Sizemore has done more than his share of damage against the Curve. Sizemore is batting .522 against Altoona (12x23) with 6 RBI and a pair of stolen basis...Conversely, Altoona's Brad Corley would prefer not to see 'Wolves pitching. Corley is just 1-for-17 (.059) in five games.
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR: Though Altoona is off to an 0-8 start, the team has played close baseball. In their opening eight games, Altoona's largest margin of defeat has been by three runs, which has happened three times. Three of Altoona's losses have been by one run, while two have been by two runs.
POWER OUTAGE: Over their last five games, Altoona has hit only .179 collectively as a team...over the last two games, the Curve have only scored two runs and accumulated 12 hits during the 18-inning stretch.
BULL OF A PEN: Over the last three games, Altoona's bullpen has been called to duty often. They have come through, tossing 19.2 innings over that span, allowing just two earned runs (0.92 ERA)
COMMITTED COMMENTATOR: Ron Potesta, Altoona's lead play-by-play man, publically declared while wrapping up last night's broadcast that if the Altoona Curve do not win tonight, he will sleep in Curve's radio booth until they do.
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