Curve Break out against Aeros in 13-5 Victory
Published on June 23, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - The Curve made sure Saturday night's game would not come down to the wire once more with Akron as they hammered out 13 runs on 13 hits en route to a 13-5 win in front of a season-best crowd of 6,152 at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The win helped Altoona emphatically end a seven-game losing streak against the Aeros this season.
It was all Altoona from the get-go on Saturday with the Curve grabbing two runs in the first inning off Aeros starter Brett Brach (2-3), who struggled with command for most of the evening. With the bases clear and two down, Stefan Welch worked a walk and stole second before Matt Curry clubbed his third home run of the season to put the Curve up, 2-0.
Shairon Martis (6-2) kept the Aeros at arms length in the top of the second before the Curve sent 10 men to the plate and scored six times in the bottom of the second. Quincy Latimore started the inning with a heads-up bunt towards third with third baseman Adam Abraham playing back. Latimore raced to first and ended up at second after Abraham threw errantly toward first. Drew Maggi followed Latimore's bunt with one of his own to move Latimore to third and place runners at the corners.
Evan Chambers came to the plate and hit a liner towards second that was too hot to handle for Matt Lawson as he couldn't make a play. Latimore trotted home from third and the Curve went in front, 3-0.
The inning continued two batters later when Brock Holt cleared the remaining Curve from the bases with a triple into right field that scored Maggi and Chambers. Brach retired Welch on a groundout for the second out but once again fell victim to his own control issues by permitting back-to-back free passes to Curry and Miles Durham to setup Ramon Cabrera. Cabrera cashed in with a single through the right side to bring Holt and Curry in and it was 7-0.
Latimore, who started the inning, stood at the plate once more and watched a wild pitch go by that allowed Durham to come home from third for the inning's sixth run and all told the eighth of the game for the Curve.
Akron finally got on the scoreboard in the third when Chun Chen homered to start the inning but the game was never out of control for the Curve, who added on four runs in the fifth and one more in the seventh.
Five different Curve players had two hits on Saturday night while Holt led the RBI charge with four, the most for the shortstop this season. The four runs driven in by Holt tie a career high, which was last accomplished April 16, 2010 when Holt drove in four versus the St. Lucie Mets as a member of the Bradenton Marauders. His 2-for-4 day also extended his consecutive games-on-base streak to 19 games, which is tied for a team best with Tony Sanchez, who reached base safely in 19 straight from April 10th through May 10th.
Martis finished six innings and permitted five runs while earning his sixth win of the season. Nathan Baker continued his strong work out of the 'pen with two more scoreless innings of relief. Vic Black pitched a perfect ninth to seal the win.
With a much-needed win over the Aeros complete, the Curve (34-38) will try and make it two straight over the first-place Aeros (46-28) Sunday night in the third game of the series beginning at 6 p.m. Fans can begin their night at the ballpark with a pregame catch on the field from 5-5:20 p.m. before Sunday Night Fireworks will captivate all in attendance presented by Panera Bread. After the Sunday night contest, kids can head down to the field and once again run the bases.
On the hill for the Curve will be RHP Phil Irwin (0-4, 4.35), who takes to the mound in search of his first win of the campaign. He'll be opposed on the hill by Aeros starter Paolo Espino (1-2, 3.08), who is making his second start of the season against the Curve.
Gates for the game will swing open at 5 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is set for 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information on the current Curve homestand, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Eastern League Stories from June 23, 2012
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- Fisher Cats Beat Senators 2-1 in Thriller - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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- Home Runs Sink Squirrels, 6-1 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
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