Boone's blast lift Curves
July 9, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
TRENTON, N.J. - James Boone belted a go-ahead, three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to propel the Altoona Curve to a 7-2 win over the first-place Trenton Thunder Wednesday evening at Waterfront Park in Trenton. The victory evens the three-game set at one game apiece after the Thunder blanked Altoona, 8-0, in Tuesday's series opener.
The Curve trailed 2-0 and had managed only one hit over the first five innings against Thunder left-hander Phil Coke, but Boone, batting with Steve Lerud and Jason Bowers on base, hit a towering blast over the left-field wall to give Altoona its first lead in the series. The longball was Boone's first home run since April 21.
Bowers and Jonel Pacheco delivered key two-RBI singles as part of a four-run ninth to seal the win.
Left-hander Kyle Bloom (1-4) shook off a two-run Thunder first inning and turned in his best effort of the season to earn his first win. Bloom, who was winless over his first 12 starts and 18 overall outings, worked a season-high 5 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs and four hits, while striking out seven. The two runs he gave up in the first were unearned.
Meanwhile, the Curve bullpen, which has struggled in recent games, turned in a strong performance to nail down just the Curve's fifth win in 17 games. Ronald Belisario retired all four batters he faced between the sixth and seventh innings and Juan Mateo worked two scoreless innings to notch his first save.
Coke (7-4) was handed the loss for Trenton, allowing three runs -- all on the Boone home run -- over six innings.
Jason Delaney recorded a second-inning single to extend his current team-high hitting streak to 11 games. Delaney is just one game shy of matching Brad Corley's season-long, 12-game streak, which was turned in from April 22-May 5.
The Curve will complete their three-game series against Trenton Thursday evening at Waterfront Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Altoona will send right-hander Luis Munoz (1-2, 5.09) to the mound against Thunder righty Eric Hacker (4-1, 2.05). Fans can hear all the action on Real Oldies 93.5 FM and the Curve Radio Network beginning at 6:50 with the Curve GameDay Show presented by the Hotel Belmar and Budget Beverage. The game can also be heard live and for free on-line at AltoonaCurve.com.
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