Curry, Lambo and McPherson Lead Curve to 8-1 Win
Published on July 3, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
TRENTON, N.J. - Matt Curry and Andrew Lambo each drove in three runs while Kyle McPherson (2-2) tossed five innings of one-run ball to help the Altoona Curve to a, 8-1, win over the Thunder on Sunday night at Waterfront Park. With the win, Altoona draws a series split and has won two of its past three games.
Things got going early for the Curve as they scored the game's first run in the first. Brock Holt, Josh Rodriguez and Lambo all singled off Thunder starter Manny Banuelos (3-2) to load the bases with one out. Tony Sanchez followed with a single of his own that brought Holt in and Altoona led, 1-0.
McPherson escaped jams in the first and second innings as the first two men reached in each of those frames. In a tight spot in the second with two on and two down, McPherson struck out Derek Jeter to end the inning. The strikeout of Jeter was the third out in a streak of nine in a row set down by the 23-year-old McPherson from the second through the fourth innings.
Altoona pulled away with a four-run fifth capped by a Curry two-out, three-run homer to right field. Starling Marte reached on an error to start the inning and scored two batters later on a Lambo RBI single to make it, 2-0. After Banuelos struck out Sanchez, Curry delivered a three-run homer to right off the new reliever Brad Halsey to place the Curve in front, 5-0.
Trenton plated a run in the bottom of the fifth off McPherson but wouldn't score any further as he escaped the inning with just the one run. He finished the fifth and wound up with seven strikeouts over his five innings of work. The bullpen duo of Anthony Claggett and Matt McSwain combined for four scoreless innings of relief.
The Curve sent nine men to the plate in the eighth inning and tacked on three more runs off reliever Alan Horne. Lambo delivered the big hit of the inning with two down as he drove in pair to extend the lead to seven. The Newbury Park, Calif. native finished the game 3-for-5 with three singles and three RBI.
Jeter once again went 1-for-2 with a walk for Trenton.
After drawing a series split, Altoona (36-45) returns home to Blair County Ballpark beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday night to host the Akron Aeros on Independence Day. There will be a huge postgame fireworks show following the game with the Aeros on Monday night thanks to the Pennsylvania Lottery. Kids will run the bases after the game as well.
On the field during the game with Akron, the Curve will wear a special edition 2011 Stars and Stripes Cap with the American flag etched into the team's "Keystone A" logo. These caps will be auctioned off as part of a "Hats off the Head" silent auction that will take place during the game with proceeds benefitting the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home. A limited number of the caps will be available for purchase in The Stockyard but they will only be made available during the game once gates open.
Individual Picnic tickets with a two-hour, all-you-can-eat buffet are available for purchase for the Fourth as well. The two hour, all-you-can-eat buffet in the U.S. Foodservice Picnic Pavilion will be $22.50 for adults and $17.50 for children. Season ticket holders may upgrade for $15.50 for adults and $11.50 for children.
With a large crowd anticipated for Monday night, season-ticket holder gates will swing open at 5:30 p.m. while regular gates will open at 5:45 p.m. to allow Curve fans easier access to the ballpark.
LHP Jeff Locke (5-7, 4.20) will take the mound for Altoona while LHP T.J. McFarland (4-4, 4.55) throws for the Aeros.
Good seats still remain for Monday night's Independence Day contest but are going fast. Fans can purchase their Fourth of July tickets in person at the box office windows at BCB on Monday, by phone at 877.99.CURVE or by logging on to www.AltoonaCurve.com .
Eastern League Stories from July 3, 2011
- Curry, Lambo and McPherson Lead Curve to 8-1 Win - Altoona Curve
- Jeter's Final Rehab Stint Spoiled by Curve - Trenton Thunder
- R-Phils Earn Series Win with 4-3 Victory Over Richmond on Sunday - Reading Fightin Phils
- B-Mets Run Themselves into 4-3 Loss - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Thunder Set New Attendance Record - Trenton Thunder
- Baysox Take Season Series from Mets - Chesapeake Baysox
- Aeros Plagued by SeaWolves Five-Run First - Akron RubberDucks
- Wilson's Gem Leads Portland to 5-2 Win - Portland Sea Dogs
- Reading Takes Third Straight Over Squirrels, 4-3 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Stewart Returns to Fisher Cats, But Falls 5-2 in Portland - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- 'Wolves Take Series from Aeros with 6-2 Win on Sunday - Erie SeaWolves
- Hendriks Throws Rock Cats Past Harrisburg - New Britain Rock Cats
- Senators Fall in Series Finale at New Britain - Harrisburg Senators
- Rock Cats Hit 200,000 Attendance Mark On Earliest Opening In Franchise History - New Britain Rock Cats
- Erie SeaWolves Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- SeaWolves Announce "Fans Choice" T-Shirt Promotion - Erie SeaWolves
- Portland Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
- Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Patriotic Homestand Concludes Today - Reading Fightin Phils
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