EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Flirts with Second Comeback But Falls, 7-6

Published on June 8, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - Altoona scratched and clawed its way back into the game after falling behind early only to go on and suffer a, 7-6, defeat at the hands of the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday night at BCB. Jeremy Farrell had three hits in a losing effort for the Curve while Jordy Mercer extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the third.

Starter Bryan Morris, who was making his first start since May 21st vs. Akron, came out of the gate and had a little trouble in the first inning as he permitted four runs. The big blow came from Audy Ciriaco when he clubbed a three-run homer with one away to send Erie in front, 4-0.

Altoona battled back in the game though as Morris settled in and did not permit another run over his final three innings of work. All told, Morris tossed four innings and allowed the four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Quincy Latimore grounded out in the first to bring home Brock Holt to put the Curve on the board at 4-1. Holt himself then singled in a run in the second when he drove in Farrell to cut the deficit to two.

A two-run fourth placed the Curve even with Erie heading to the fifth. Casey Crosby (4-2), who battled control issues all night, surrendered back-to-back walks to Jose Hernandez and Brad Chalk to load the bases with one down. He then hit Holt to bring Farrell in and it was a 4-3 game. Starling Marte legged out a fielder's choice following Holt's at bat to bring in Hernandez and the game was knotted at four.

It wouldn't remain tied for long as Erie scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth off reliever Jared Hughes (3-4). Hughes, in his first bullpen outing since Opening Night in Erie, allowed two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Brandon Douglas and a sacrifice fly by Francisco Martinez. In the sixth, Erie tacked on one more to run its lead to 7-4.

Once again Altoona clawed its way back into it as they scored a pair of runs in the seventh to get within one. Holt reached on an error to start the frame and came around with two down on a single by Latimore that made it, 7-5. Matt Curry followed Latimore's single with a double to pull Altoona within one. Curry took a wide turn at second base and was thrown out on the same play to end the threat.

Down a run in the eighth, the Curve squandered an opportunity to tie the game when the first two men in the inning reached safely. Hernandez put down a sacrifice bunt but neither Chalk nor Holt could find the hit to tie up the game.

Matt McSwain pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Curve while Donnie Veal also tossed a clean inning in the loss.

The Curve (29-29) and SeaWolves (28-29) will meet in the rubber match of this three-game series at 7 p.m. on a Thursday at BCB. A special postgame fireworks show will follow Thursday night's game with Erie and it will also be a Thirsty Thursday presented by Rocky 104.9 at the ballpark. There will be $2 draft specials on 16oz. Yuengling as well as $1.50 22oz. sodas.

RHP Mike Colla (4-2, 2.65) will take the mound in the homestand finale for Altoona while RHP Jacob Turner (1-1, 2.79) makes the start for Erie. Gates open up at 6 p.m. and air time on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is slated for 6:30 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 8, 2011


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