EL1 Altoona Curve

Case Study: Sadler's Arm, Bat Lead Curve to Victory

Published on May 6, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


HARRISBURG, Pa. - Casey Sadler (4-2) took the Curve on his back and led them to a, 3-1, win on Monday night at Metro Bank Park. Sadler tossed a career-high eight innings on Monday and also drove in the game's first two runs for the Curve in the fifth with a two-run single. The win for the Curve snaps the club's season-long, six-game losing streak.

Sadler began the game with three perfect innings before walking Brian Goodwin to start the fourth inning. He disposed of Goodwin quickly thereafter, picking him off before he threw the first pitch to the next batter Josh Johnson. He went through four innings without allowing a hit and ran that streak until there were two out with one on in the fifth.

Prior to him pitching in the bottom of the fifth, however, Sadler guided the Curve to the lead in the batter's box in the top half of the inning. Jarek Cunningham doubled down the left-field line to start the inning for the Curve's first hit of the night off Brian Broderick (1-3). Stefan Welch lined out and Carlos Paulino grounded out behind Cunningham and suddenly there were two outs with the No. 8 hitter Mel Rojas, Jr. at the plate.

Harrisburg elected to intentionally walk Rojas, Jr. to get to Sadler but he made them pay with his two-run single that got by Goodwin in right-center field. Cunningham scored easily while Rojas raced around from first to put the Curve in front, 2-0.

Back out on the mound in the bottom of the inning, Sadler permitted his first hit of the game to Sandy Leon, which came with Justin Bloxom on first and two out. The ball ended up getting by Rojas in center and Bloxom came all the way around to touch home plate. It became an unearned run to Sadler but the 'Sens were on the board at, 2-1.

Alex Dickerson answered immediately in the sixth with his third homer of the season, a deep blast to straightaway centerfield to make it, 3-1. That capped the scoring offensively on the night as Sadler went on to finish the eighth. He ended it in emphatic fashion with a strikeout of pinch hitter Jimmy van Ostrand.

Sadler's final line ended up being eight innings of solid work while allowing just two hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Tim Alderson pitched the ninth and allowed one baserunner on a Gift Ngoepe error but it was no problem for the Curve righty, who picked up his second save of the season. Adalberto Santos walked in the top of the ninth inning to extend his on-base streak to 16 games.

Altoona (12-19) and Harrisburg (14-17) will play the middle game of the three-game series beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday night from Metro Bank Park. To the hill in the second game for the Curve will be RHP Jameson Taillon (2-3, 3.03), who is coming off a quality start his last time out and will be facing the Senators for the second time this season. He'll be opposed by Senators righty Nathan Karns (2-1, 3.25) on Tuesday night.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information on upcoming promotions and games at Peoples Natural Gas Field, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at the ballpark.

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Eastern League Stories from May 6, 2013


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