EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Explodes In 15th To Down Squirrels

Published on April 22, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


RICHMOND, Va. - A six-run 15th inning capped by a Starling Marte bases-clearing triple that also resulted in him scoring on an error helped the comeback Curve to an, 11-5, win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Friday night at The Diamond. Marte finished the game 3-for-7 with a career-high six RBI in the win. Altoona scored the final 11 runs in the ballgame after Richmond plated the first five.

Miles Durham reached with his second hit of the game with one down in the 15th. Squirrels pitcher Osiris Matos (1-2) was then called for a balk while trying to pick Durham off at first and he was awarded second base. That set the table for Quincy Latimore, who drove in Durham with a solid single to left to break the 5-5 deadlock. Jeremy Farrell followed Latimore's single with a single of his own to put two on with one down for Eric Fryer.

Fryer doubled into right field to score Latimore and it moved Farrell to third still with one down. That chased Matos from the game and the Squirrels brought in David Quinowski to face pinch hitter Shelby Ford with the Curve up, 7-5. Ford struck out but Brock Holt was able to work a walk to load up the bases to set the table for Marte's bases-clearing triple.

The Santo Domingo, D.R. native smacked a ball over the head of Squirrels right fielder Mike McBryde that ended up bouncing off the wall. Marte never stopped running around the bases and McBryde's throw back into the infield was errant and he was charged with the error.

Altoona tied up the game in the ninth with two down and it began with Fryer, who singled underneath the glove of closer Jason Stoffel to put himself on at first. Kris Watts pinch hit and drew a walk that moved Fryer to second with two away for Holt, whom Stoffel retired to end the game on Thursday night.

Holt hit a ball towards short that Nick Noonan made a poor throw on trying to force out Watts at second and everyone was safe after the error. With the bases loaded, Marte brought home both Fryer and Watts with a single to left that tied the game at five.

The Altoona bullpen was stellar on Friday night, combining to shut down the Squirrels offense over the final 10 innings of the ballgame after starter Jared Hughes went the first five. Brian Leach, Tim Alderson, Michael Dubee, Tom Boleska, Anthony Claggett and Noah Krol all worked in relief in the win. Claggett (1-0) pitched a scoreless 14th inning to earn his first win of the year.

Durham, Farrell, Fryer and Latimore all chipped in multi-hit games in the win in addition to Marte's three-hit game. The 15-inning marathon took 4 hours and 41 minutes to play. Both the 15 innings and the 4:41 game time are now franchise records for the Squirrels, who are in their second year of existence since moving from Connecticut.

Back at .500, the Curve (7-7) will trot RHP Aaron Pribanic (1-0, 2.25) to the hill in the rubber match on Saturday night against the Squirrels. Richmond (6-9) will counter with LHP Ryan Verdugo (1-0, 1.74) in the 6:35 p.m. contest.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from April 22, 2011


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