Big inning fuels 9-4 Curve win over Harrisburg
August 6, 2004 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(ALTOONA, PA)- A six-run fourth inning and another solid outing from Ian Snell were enough for the Altoona Curve to earn its fourth consecutive victory with a 9-4 win over the Harrisburg Senators Friday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The win improved Altoona (67-44) to a new franchise-record 23 games above the .500 mark and increased the club's first-place lead to eight games over second-place Erie, which lost 4-3 at Reading on Friday. Harrisburg (40-72) saw its season-high five-game winning streak come to a close.
The Curve broken open a 1-1 game in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring six runs against Harrisburg starter Corey Thurman (1-2). Nate McLouth, who went 4-for-4 to lead all Altoona hitters, opened the frame with a base hit that led to a total of six hits in the inning. Ronny Paulino highlighted the six-run frame with a two-run homer--his 15th of the season--to continue to build on a career high in that category. A would-be inning-ending groundball off the bat of Shaun Skrehot was thrown away by shortstop Josh Labandeira, allowing the final two runs to cross the plate.
The big inning provided enough support for Curve starter Ian Snell (9-6), who allowed just two runs on six hits over seven innings to earn his team-leading ninth win of the season. The right-hander walked just one batter and struck out seven, raising his season strikeout total to 115 and leaving him just seven punchouts shy of the club record of 122 set by Adrian Burnside in 2002.
The Curve closed out its scoring in the bottom of the fifth on Brad Eldred's first Double-A home run--a two-run shot to left field. Eldred finished the game with three RBI.
McLouth's 4-for-4 performance increased his on-base streak to 29 games, leaving him just one game shy of his own club record of 30 straight games set earlier this season.
Altoona will continue its three-game series Saturday night with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch against Harrisburg. Curve right-hander Bryan Bullington (7-7, 4.43) will oppose Senators' righty Doug Sessions (2-0, 3.60) in the mound matchup.
Eastern League Stories from August 6, 2004
- Kris Wilken drives in game-winning run in 11th, extending hitting streak to 11 games - Chesapeake Baysox
- Fisher Cats Split Twi-Night Doubleheader In Norwich - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Big inning fuels 9-4 Curve win over Harrisburg - Altoona Curve
- Fisher Cats Add Pitcher Jordy Templet In Time For Norwich Series - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Baseball, Fireworks and Margaritaville - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Gustavo Chacin of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats is named the Eastern League's Chase Most Valuable Pl - EL1
- 18 home dates remain in the 2004 season - Erie SeaWolves
- Fisher Cats in a dog fight - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Fisher Cats player promoted - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Sea Dogs Next Homestand - Portland Sea Dogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
