Curve Beat Up on Binghamton, 7-1
Published on May 15, 2003 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(BINGHAMTON, NY) -- As it turned out, all the Altoona Curve needed to do was take a road trip. After dropping its tenth straight home game Wednesday, the Curve began an eight-game road trip Thursday with a decisive 7-1 victory over the Binghamton Mets.
Sean Burnett (3-2) pitched six scoreless innings for his first win since April 21. The lefty allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four in reducing his ERA to 2.23.
Offensively for Altoona (18-19), Chris Duffy and Jose Castillo led the charge. Duffy went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, three steals, and three runs scored. Castillo, who played second base for the first time this season, had two hits--including a double--and knocked in two.
"It was good to see Duffy swing the bat well and get things going," Curve manager Dale Sveum said. "And Castillo has looked pretty comfortable in the three spot the last couple of days swinging the bat and hitting the ball hard."
Castillo, who was originally in the lineup at shortstop, was moved to second base just before game time at the request of the Pirates. The 40-man roster member played some second base in major league spring training and will see playing time there for the Curve according to Sveum.
"You're going to be seeing him a little bit more over there," said Sveum. "It's time and...you know...the obvious reasons."
When asked if "obvious reasons" meant because of the thumb injury to Pirates' second baseman Pokey Reese, Sveum said the switch for Castillo will provide another choice for the major league club in the future.
"It's just going to give the Pirates more options if anything else happens. I was just told to play him there and just let him get a lot of experience...let him get comfortable over there."
Reese, was placed on the disabled list these week after straining a ligament in his left thumb sliding into a base. The injury is expected to keep him sidelined for six-to-eight weeks.
In Thursday's win, the Curve scored at least one run in each of the first four innings in building a 6-0 lead. Shawn Garrett singled home the first inning run. Duffy (two-run) and Castillo each had RBI doubles in the second.
In the third, Ronny Paulino--who drew four of the 12 walks issued by Binghamton pitching--counted an RBI double. Castillo knocked in his second run of the contest in the fourth with a single.
Each team plated a run in the seventh to round out the scoring.
Altoona won for the eleventh time in its last 14 road games. Given his team's hot play on the road, Sveum was asked if they would stay at a hotel when the Curve returned home.
"We might have to," joked Sveum. "Because most of the guys were staying at the Ramada when we swept Reading (during the first homestand of the year). It's an idea. Parney (Curve GM Todd Parnell) should book it."
Game two of the series in Binghamton is Friday at 7 p.m. Curve lefty John Grabow (2-1, 4.37) will face B-Mets' southpaw Neal Musser (0-1, 2.57).
Eastern League Stories from May 15, 2003
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