Buttler Drives Home Game-Winner in Ninth
July 31, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA- Vic Buttler drove home Brandon Chaves with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Curve beat the Reading Phillies, 3-2, in game one of a four-game series at Blair County Ballpark on Tuesday night.
The Curve were in position to win thanks to a strong performance from starter Josh Shortslef. Shortslef, the least supported pitcher in the Curve's starting rotation, didn't factor in the decision despite turning in seven innings of one-run ball. Shortslef permitted Reading just four hits in that span.
The run Reading did score came early as they got to Shortslef in the first inning. Michael Spidale led off the game with a triple to the allery in right-center field. He scored a batter later as Michael Costanzo bounced out and Reading led, 1-0.
Shortslef answered on his own behalf in the bottom of the fifth. Shortslef's sacrifice fly to left field plated Brian Peterson who had led off the inning with a single off of R-Phils starter Zack Segovia.
Segovia also didn't factor in the decision despite a solid outing. Segovia allowed just two runs on six Curve hits over seven innings.
The second run charged to Segovia gave the Curve the lead in the seventh. Peterson opened the inning with a double to the left field corner and scored two batters later as Jason Bowers squeezed a single back up the middle with two outs.
Reading drew even off of reliever Chris Hernandez in the eighth. Greg Golson started the rally, laying down a bunt single with one out. He scored on a Costanzo double to even the game heading to the ninth.
Hernandez (3-1) earned the win by rebounding to turn in a scoreless ninth inning. The Curve got him the win in the bottom of the inning. Chaves pinch-hit for Hernandez and singled. Chaves stole second base to put himself in scoring position and Buttler took care of the rest, singling to right field to win the game.
Julio De La Cruz (1-3) allowed the run in the ninth and was saddled with his third loss of the year.
With the win, the Curve (56-50) equaled their high-water mark for the season at six games over .500.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday night at BCB. RHP Yoslan Herrera (6-5, 4.53) will start game one for the Curve against RHP Patrick Overholt (3-5, 6.33) for the R-Phils. Game two will pit Curve LHP Kyle Bloom (0-0, 0.00) against Reading RHP Chris Rojas (5-3, 5.22).
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