EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Battle Late But Drop Opener to Rock Cats

Published on July 21, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


Curve, Pa. - The Altoona Curve dropped the first game of the three-game series to the New Britain Rock Cats 4-3 on Monday night at New Britain Stadium. Altoona gathered just five total hits in the game and had six innings where they went three-up-three-down.

Dan Gamache delivered a big hit for Altoona early in the game that gave Altoona a 2-0 lead. After Andy Vasquez singled with one out, Gamache pulled a two-run home run over the right field wall that gave Altoona the lead.

The Curve relinquished the lead in the bottom of the second. Curve starter Zack Dodson gave up a one-out walk to Reynaldo Rodriguez, followed by a double to Mike Kvasnicka to put two runners in scoring position. After a groundout by Brandon Waring brought New Britain to within one, Stephen Wickens lined a single into left to tie the game at two.

Altoona fell at a disadvantage in the fourth. After Waring hit a single and advanced to second on an outfield assist by Willy Garcia when he nabbed Kvasnicka trying to go first-to-third, Dodson walked two batters to push the bases loaded. Dodson then balked with the bases loaded which allowed the Rock Cats to take a 3-2 lead.

New Britain tallied their final run in the fifth. After Dodson exited the game and left a pair of men on base, Aaron Hicks hit an infield single that scored Wickens and gave the Rock Cats the 4-2 lead.

Garcia got the offense rolling in the eighth to help the Curve strike to within one. The left fielder lined a double (his first extra-base hit since July 2) to right center and scored two pitches later on a double by Carlos Paulino.

Dodson (2-7) suffered the loss while Tyler Duffey (6-2) picked up the win for New Britain. Dodson went 5.1 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits while walking a career-high seven batters. Cole Johnson notched his seventh save of the year for New Britain.

Altoona will continue their three-game series with New Britain on Tuesday night. RHP Joan Montero (3-4, 5.09) will take the bump for the Curve and will be opposed by RHP Virgil Vasquez (5-6, 3.70) First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. while pregame on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM, and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

The Curve will return home on Monday, July 28 for a lengthy homestand against the Erie SeaWolves and the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Altoona will start off the homestand with postgame fireworks on July 28 & 29. For tickets and information about the upcoming homestand, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com, or stop by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

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Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2014


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