EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Drops Second Straight With Loss On Friday

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


CURVE, Pa. - The Flying Squirrels scored eight runs in the first six innings and outlasted Altoona, 8-4, in the first game of the four-game series on Friday night at Blair County Ballpark. Starling Marte was 1-for-5 in the loss and extended his hitting streak to a season and team-best 15 games.

Things didn't start well for Altoona as the Curve fell behind in the first inning when Charlie Culberson lined a home run down the line in left field to make it, 1-0 Richmond. The Squirrels went on to make it 2-0 after plating a run in the top of the second before Altoona scored its first run in the bottom half of the third. Marte, who singled with one away, scored the Curve's first run of the contest when he came home on a Daryl Maday (4-10) wild pitch during Jeremy Farrell's at bat.

With the Curve within one, Richmond pulled away with four runs in the top of the fourth when they sent nine men to the plate against Altoona starter Brett Sinkbeil (0-1). After Sinkbeil retired the first batter of the inning, Richmond used four straight hits to score three runs. The big blow came off the bat of Jackson Williams when he doubled to clear the bases. Richmond's final run of the inning came home when Farrell made an error at third that allowed the pitcher Maday to trot home from third with two outs.

Altoona tried to chip away at the lead with a run in the fifth but the Squirrels answered back once again with two more runs in the sixth thanks to a Wendell Fairley double.

Quincy Latimore smacked a two-run homer in the eighth to bring Altoona within four. It was the third of Latimore's three hits on the day, which was tied for the team lead. The Curve loaded the bases in the ninth against closer Heath Hembree but couldn't find the hit to bring in any runs.

Sinkbeil finished 5.1 innings and permitted all eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits while Matt McSwain, Tim Alderson and Anthony Claggett combined for a scoreless relief effort from the bullpen.

Brad Chalk also finished the day 3-for-4 in the loss for Altoona.

Looking to snap a two-game slide, Altoona (63-75) will host the Squirrels (74-65) in the second game of the four-game series at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. The Curve will host their first of two fireworks shows on back-to-back nights on Saturday after game. It will also be the final Community Collection Day at Blair County Ballpark to benefit the Central PA Humane Society. Fans are asked to bring pet food and pet supplies to the ballpark to help a very worthy cause.

RHP Aaron Pribanic (10-9, 3.98) will take the mound for the Curve in the second game of the series on Saturday night while LHP Chuck Lofgren (3-2, 4.61) toes the slab for the Squirrels. Gates swing open at 6 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

For more information on upcoming events and promotions in Curve, Pa., call 877.99.CURVE, visit www.AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at BCB.

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Eastern League Stories from September 2, 2011


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