Altoona's Rally Falls Short in 6-5 Loss
August 11, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - A four-run first inning did in the Altoona Curve on Thursday night as the Rock Cats were able to steal the final game of the series, 6-5, at New Britain Stadium. Andrew Lambo drove in two runs with two down in the ninth to cut the lead to one but the comeback fell one-run shy.
Altoona's ninth-inning rally began with two down when Brock Holt worked a walk off closer Tyler Robertson. It was Robertson's first walk of the game but the seventh overall from Rock Cats' pitching on the night and none of the previous six had come around to score. Josh Rodriguez battled Robertson before he belted a double inside the bag at third to place two on with two down.
Lambo stroked a two-run single to right to pull Altoona closer at 6-5 but Tony Sanchez grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Starling Marte led off the game with his 10th home run of the year in the first off starter Blake Martin (2-4). It was the third time this year that Marte has led off a game with a home run and the fifth time overall Altoona has done it in 2011. No one else would reach off Martin in the first and after half a frame the Curve were in front, 1-0.
Kyle McPherson (6-4) took to the hill in the bottom of the first and immediately permitted back-to-back singles by Brian Dozier and Yangervis Solarte to start the inning. Joe Benson popped out for the inning's first out and then Chris Parmelee lifted a pop fly into shallow left directly into a sliver of sunlight. Holt was there to make the catch but the ball popped out of his glove and everyone was safe to load the bases.
Evan Bigley followed Parmelee with a solid single to right field that went under the glove of Lambo in right and it cleared the bases to put New Britain in front for the first time in the series, 3-1. Mark Dolenc grounded out two batters later to bring home Bigley for the inning's fourth run. After one, Altoona trailed, 4-1.
The lead was cut to two in the second when Quincy Latimore doubled in Tony Sanchez from second to make it 4-2. That is where the game stayed until the Rock Cats found a two-out run off McPherson in the fourth to reclaim the three-run lead. In see-saw fashion, the Curve answered in the top of the fifth when Tony Sanchez delivered a two-out hit to bring home Holt to once again cut the lead to two.
Another two-out rally bit McPherson in the fifth when Bigley drove in Parmelee to once again place New Britain ahead by three. That run ended the scoring until Altoona plated its two runs in the ninth.
McPherson completed five innings and allowed six runs (three earned) in five innings of work to suffer his first loss since July 8th. Bryan Morris, Anthony Claggett and Noah Krol all tossed scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Altoona. Marte, Rodriguez and Tony Sanchez all finished the game with multiple hits.
The Curve went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position on Thursday night while stranding nine on the bases. Of the seven walks Altoona drew on Thursday night, only one came in to score.
Altoona (52-64) returns home at 7 p.m. on a Freebie Friday in Curve, Pa. to take on the R-Phils (AA - Philadelphia Phillies) at Blair County Ballpark in the first game of a seven-game homestand. The first 750 fans 14 & under through the gates on Friday night will receive a Back to School Drawstring Bag courtesy of Ravine Screen Printing and Embroidery.
Also, all fans 12 and under will be admitted absolutely free into Blair County Ballpark as part of the final Galliker's Kids' Club Night of the season. Fans already in the Kids' Club should remember to bring their membership card, while fans new to the club can sign up easily and without cost at the Curve Box Office upon arrival for the game. Kids will also get to run the bases after the game.
RHP Aaron Pribanic (7-9, 4.39) will start the series on the hill for Altoona while RHP Joe Esposito (5-3, 5.52) makes the start for the Reading Phillies. Gates will swing open at 6 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is slated for 6:30 p.m.
For tickets and more information on upcoming events and promotions in Curve, Pa., please call 877.99.CURVE, visit www.AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at BCB.
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