Curve bats cool down in 5-1 loss to Erie
Published on July 21, 2004 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
Altoona, PA- A four-run third inning and 8 1/3 strong innings from Matt Roney were enough for the Erie SeaWolves to earn a 5-1 win over the Altoona Curve in the rubber game of the two clubs' three-game series Wednesday night at Blair County Ballpark.
Erie tagged Curve starter Mike Connolly for the big third inning, highlighted by a two-run single by David Espinosa and a two-run homer off the bat of Curtis Granderson. The SeaWolves added their fifth run in the top of the fourth when Scott Tousa's bloop single to left knocked in Jack Hannahan.
Connolly (7-6) pitched into the seventh inning and allowed all five runs on nine hits to drop his second consecutive decision. The left-hander did manage to match his season high with eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings of work.
Meanwhile, Erie right-hander Matt Roney pitched a gem to improve his record to 8-7. Roney, who spent the entire 2003 season at the major league level in Tigers' system, no-hit the Curve over the first five innings and carried a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning before surrending his only run on an opposite field solo home run by Nate McLouth.
Roney went 8 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, walking one and striking out five. Brian Schmack retire the final two men he faced to cap off the SeaWolves' 10th win in 16 meetings with the Curve this season.
Chris Duffy notched two of Altoona's five hits, increasing his Eastern League-leading hits total to 115 and extending his season-high hitting streak to nine games.
After an off day Thursday, the Curve will visit Bowie (Orioles) for a three-game series against the Baysox this weekend. In Friday's series opener, Altoona will send left-hander Zach Duke (1-0, 0.00) to the mound for his second Double-A start against Bowie righty Matt Bruback (3-1, 3.12). Gametime Friday is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Curve will return home for a six-game homestand beginning next Tuesday night with the first of three games against the Akron Aeros (Indians) at Blair County Ballpark. Bowie will return the visit as part of the second half of the next Curve homestand.
GAME NOTES: The Curve set a franchise-record by drawing 44,488 fans for this past week's seven-game homestand... Prior to the game, 6-foot-5, 274 pound first baseman Brad Eldred was added to the Curve's roster from Class-A Lynchburg, where he was batting .311 with 21 HR and 77 RBI in 90 games. Eldred started at first base and batted fourth in the lineup and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his Double-A debut... Nate McLouth extended his hitting streak to eight games and on-base streak to 15 games with his ninth-inning solo homer... Despite dominating the bottom three teams in the Southern Division standings (Reading, Akron & Harrisburg) with a 33-10 record, the Curve is just 10-15 against the two teams trailing them in the division race (Erie & Bowie)
Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2004
- R-Phils come from behind, beat Baysox - Chesapeake Baysox
- Last at-bat heroics bread & butter for B-Mets - OSC Original by Ed Gonser
- Curve bats cool down in 5-1 loss to Erie - Altoona Curve
- Fisher Cats Denied Share of First Place With 2-1 Loss At Binghamton - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Epilepsy Run/Walk Set - Harrisburg Senators
- Thunder baseball camp starts August 24 - Trenton Thunder
- Eldred Added to Curve Roster - Altoona Curve
- Fisher Cats play Wednesday in Binghamton - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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