Baysox finally solve Curve mystery in Game One, nightcap suspended
June 28, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
BOWIE, MD - Bowie starter Chorye Spoone tossed six scoreless innings and Orioles' top prospect Matt Wieters contributed a key two-run double in his Double-A debut to lead the Baysox to their first win in seven tries against the Altoona Curve, 7-1, in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. The nightcap was suspended in the bottom of the third inning with the Baysox leading, 4-3.
The Curve and Baysox will complete their three-game weekend series with a make-shift doubleheader Sunday evening at 6:05 p.m. The two clubs will complete the suspended contest before playing the regularly scheduled game to a seven-inning completion.
Weather has been both team's biggest opponent during the weekend set. Friday's scheduled series opener was postponed after a heavy downpour just prior to gametime soaked the outfield. Altoona and Bowie were able to make up Friday's game in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, but in the bottom of the third inning a severe thunderstorm, which produced heavy rain, high winds and dangerous lightning, halted the action. At one point during the stoppage, lightning struck the ballpark, knocking out power for a period of approximately 10 minutes.
In the one game which was played on Saturday evening, Altoona (34-44) fell for the fourth time in five games on its current seven-game road trip.
Spoone (3-3), who was defeated by Altoona last Sunday at Blair County Ballpark, shook off a slow start to earn his third win. The right-hander walked three batters over the first two innings, and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, before settling down. Over his six scoreless frames, Spoone allowed five hits, walked three and struck out three.
Curve starter Josh Hill (4-9) was touched up for seven runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings to suffer his team-leading ninth loss, and second of the road trip. The right-hander gave up a pair of home runs in the contest, including a second-inning solo shot to Jeff Nettles, which started the Baysox scoring. The blast was Nettles' league-leading 16th of the season.
Bowie exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to break the game open, highlighted by Wieters' double to the right field corner, which plated a pair of runs. The Orioles' first round selection in last June's amateur draft made his Double-A debut for the Baysox Saturday after hitting .345 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI in 69 games at Class-A Frederick to open the season.
Curve catcher Steve Lerud, who like Wieters was making his first appearance at the Double-A level, spoiled Bowie's shutout bid with a seven-inning solo home run off Orioles' pitcher Adam Loewen, who is with the Baysox on a major league rehab assignment. Lerud, the Pirates' fourth round selection in the 2003 June Draft, was promoted to Altoona on Thursday from Class-A Lynchburg.
Jason Bowers 2-for-3 performance provided the Curve with their only other offensive highlight in the loss.
In Sunday's regularly scheduled contest, left-hander Kyle Bloom (0-4, 5.48) will start for Altoona against Bowie righty Chris Tillman (7-2, 3.04).
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