EL1 Altoona Curve

Crotta Solid, Hitting Timely in Curve's Season-Opening Victory

Published on April 8, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - Right-hander Mike Crotta (1-0) tossed six innings of one-hit baseball while the offense erupted for five runs over the fourth and fifth innings to help the Curve to a 5-1 win over Harrisburg on Opening Night at Blair County Ballpark. Crotta, Michael Dubee, Ronald Uviedo and Daniel Moskos combined to allow just the one Senators run on two hits.

Crotta ended his night retiring the last 13 men he faced after allowing a swinging-bunt single to Pedro Lopez, which plated Harrisburg's only run of the game, in the second inning. He walked one while striking out four.

Trailing 1-0 entering the fourth, the Curve began their offensive assault with one down when Jordy Mercer singled into the hole at short and beat out the throw from Danny Espinosa. Returning Curve player Miles Durham followed Mercer's single with a single of his own to put two on with just one away. Hector Giminez fouled out for the second out of the frame but Alex Presley, in his first Double-A contest, came up with the two-out knock to drive in Mercer from second and tie the game at one.

In the fifth, a leadoff walk to Matt Hague by starter Jeff Mandel (0-1) began the Curve's latest offensive. After Crotta couldn't put down the sacrifice bunt, Mandel walked Gorkys Hernandez to put two on with just one down. Chase d'Arnaud followed with a double into shallow right field that scored Hague easily and also plated Hernandez as the relay throw skipped off the foot of the cutoff man Espinosa. The double would end Mandel's evening after 4.1 innings of work. He would end up allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Mercer greeted new Senators pitcher Rafael Martin with a single to move d'Arnaud to third and place runners at the corners for Durham. The left-handed hitting outfielder flew out to shallow centerfield but Matt Walbeck sent d'Arnaud regardless and the Pepperdine-product scored with some help from the pitcher's mound as the on-target throw from Leonard Davis skipped off the mound, allowing d'Arnaud to score Altoona's fourth run.

The Curve plated its final run of the evening with the very next batter as Gimenez doubled in Mercer to make it 5-1.

Altoona's bullpen was nearly superb in its first test of 2010. Dubee pitched a perfect seventh and Uviedo a perfect eighth. Moskos did permit a hit and walked two but was able to escape the ninth frame unscathed.

With Opening Night in the books, Altoona (1-0) will send RHP Jared Hughes to the hill for his first start in 2010 to oppose Harrisburg's LHP Aaron Thompson in the 6:30 p.m. tilt.

Friday night also marks the first ever appearance of The Famous San Diego Chicken, presented by Tyrone Milling. The iconic character will be at BCB all night long making sure everyone has left the building completely laughed-out. Tickets for Friday night's game can be purchased by calling 877.99.CURVE or by logging on to AltoonaCurve.com. Radio coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Altoona Curve Radio Network.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from April 8, 2010


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.

OurSports Central