EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Wins Fifth Straight

Published on August 7, 2004 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


(ALTOONA, PA)- Brad Eldred belted a pair of two-run homers and knocked in five runs to lead the Altoona Curve to a 9-2 win over the Harrisburg Senators before 8,048 at Blair County Ballpark Saturday night.

Eldred, who had just two hits in his first 23 at-bats after being called up from Class-A Lynchburg on July 21st, posted a third consecutive impressive offensive performance. The 6-foot-5, 274 pound first baseman has gone 7-for-12 with three homers, three doubles and nine RBI since Thursday and now has connected for 24 home runs this season between Altoona and Lynchburg.

Nate McLouth also sparked the Curve offense on a night in which he equaled his own franchise-record on-base streak. McLouth reached base safely in his 30th consecutive game in going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and his seventh home run of the season. The right fielder picked up his three hits in his first three at-bats of the game, giving him hits in his first seven at-bats in the series. His consecutive at-bats with a hit streak came to an end in the bottom of the sixth when he was intentionally hit by a pitch from Harrisburg reliever Luke Lockwood that led to retaliation from the Curve in the top of the seventh.

Curve starter Bryan Bullington faced Lockwood with two outs and nobody on in the seventh and drilled him in the back with his second pitch, resulting in the Curve right-hander being ejected from the game by home plate umpire and crew chief Andy Vincent. Curve manager Tony Beasley was also ejected after arguing with Vincent over Bullington's ejection.

Despite being tossed from the game, Bullington (8-7) made his mark in the contest, limiting Harrisburg to just one run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings to earn the victory. Bullington, who had posted a 6.04 ERA in his previous five starts, walked three and struck out five.

After trailing 1-0 after the top of the first, Altoona scored three times in the bottom of the inning against Harrisburg starter Doug Sessions (2-1), who gave up eight runs and 10 hits in his four innings of work to suffer the loss. McLouth knocked in the first of his two runs with a double that scored Shaun Skrehot to even the game at 1-1. Later in the frame, Eldred connected on the first of two homers to give the Curve a 3-1 advantage.

Leading 5-1, Altoona iced the game away in the fifth by scoring three times on an RBI double by Tom Evans and Eldred's second two-run blast.

Eldred picked up his fifth RBI of the game in the sixth with a bloop single to right that allowed McLouth to score his franchise record-tying fourth run of the game.

Scott Sheldon and Chris Snusz each had two of Altoona's 13 hits.

The Curve will look for the sweep of the Senators Sunday night at Blair County when Bobby Bradley (4-1, 3.09) takes the mound against Harrisburg left-hander Michael Hinckley (4-1, 2.97). Gametime is set for 6:05 p.m. with gates to open at the special time of 4:30 for a pre-game player autograph and photo session presented by Dental Care Associates. The evening will be capped by post-game fireworks show presented by WJAC-TV 6.

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Eastern League Stories from August 7, 2004


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