Baysox avoid four-game sweep with 9-7 win over Curve
Published on June 23, 2005 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
Simon Pond posted four hits and knocked in four runs to help the Bowie Baysox avoid a four-game series sweep with a 9-7 win over the Altoona Curve Thursday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The Curve (40-32) failed for the third time in three attempts this season to secure a four-game series sweep and ended the day back into a tie for first place with Akron in the Eastern League's Southern Division. Both the Curve and Aeros hold a 1/2 game lead over third-place Erie entering Friday. Akron and Erie both lost their games on Thursday.
The Curve jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against Bowie starter Nick McCurdy, who was a late fill-in for regularly scheduled starter Brian Forystek. However, the Baysox quickly got back into the game in the top of third as Pond drilled a long three-run homer off Curve starter Matt Peterson to cap a four-run frame.
Josh Bonifay put the Curve back on top on the first pitch of the bottom of the third, drilling an opposite-field homer--his 13th of the season--against reliever Ryan Keefer to make the score 5-4. But Keefer (5-3) recovered to toss three strong innings and pick up the win as the Baysox took the lead for good in the top of the sixth with three runs.
Peterson (6-4) allowed seven runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings to suffer his first home loss of the season and his fourth overall. The right-hander walked two and struck out four before leaving the game in the sixth.
The Curve nearly came back in the bottom of the ninth inning from a 9-5 deficit by scoring two runs, but Craig Stansberry and pinch-hitter Ray Sadler each struck out as the potential winning runs at the plate to end the game. Sendy Rleal closed out the game to earn his sixth save of the season.
Altoona pounded out 12 hits, including three from Javier Guzman, who improved to 7-for-11 in his first three games with the Curve after being promoted from Class-A Lynchburg on Monday. Jose Bautista also continued his solid hitting, going 2-for-3 with two RBI to give him 21 RBI over the past 12 games. Rich Thompson doubled and tripled, while Bonifay and Jorge Cortes also chipped in with two hits.
The Curve will continue a seven-game homestand with the first of a three-game series against the New Britain Rock Cats (AA/Minnesota Twins) Friday night at Blair County Ballpark. Lefty Paul Maholm (4-2, 3.65) will take the mound for Altoona against New Britain southpaw Glen Perkins, a 2004 first round pick of the Twins who will be making his Double-A debut. Gametime Friday night is set for 7:05 PM.
Eastern League Stories from June 23, 2005
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- Vince Perkins placed on disabled list - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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