EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Comeback Not Enough As Aeros Walk Off With Win

Published on July 18, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


Win: Matt Langwell (4-1)

Loss: Anthony Claggett (3-2)

Save: --

Attendance: 3,079

TOG: 2:50

AKRON, Ohio - Juan Diaz came to the plate in the ninth inning in a tie ballgame with a runner on second with two outs and he delivered with a bloop single to left to score the game-winning run in a 4-3 win for the Akron Aeros against the Altoona Curve on Monday night at Canal Park in game one of the series.

With the score tied, the Aeros led the inning off with a single from John Drennan off Anthony Claggett (3-2) before a bunt and a fly out put a runner on second with two outs. Diaz then came through with the game winning hit.

After a heavy thunderstorm delayed the contest by one hour and thirty minutes, the Aeros got on the board in the first inning with an unearned run. Off starter Jeff Locke, a runner reached on an error with two outs before Chun Chen tripled down the line in right to score the runner from first.

The Aeros added to their lead in the third as Locke walked the first two batters of the inning, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Chen and also on a wild pitch, as the Aeros led 3-0 after three.

After a couple of scoreless innings by both Locke and Akron starter Austin Adams, Starling Marte tripled to start the sixth inning and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Lambo to make it a 3-1 game.

Locke was lifted after five innings of work where he allowed three runs on just two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. He was relieved by Bryan Morris who worked two innings, allowing a runner to get to third on both occasions, but he worked out to keep the game at 3-1.

Adams ended up going one out into the eighth inning, but not after Marte reached on a bunt single and Lambo singled him home. Matt Langwell (4-1) was then brought on from the bullpen, a guy the Curve, as a team, were 0-for-25 against this season but Tony Sanchez ripped a ball over the head of the right fielders head to score a run to tie the game. The next batter, Matt Curry, blooped a ball to shallow left that was dropped by the shortstop to set up second and third with one down. However, Langwell worked out of the inning and ended up as the winning pitcher as he hurled a clean ninth as well.

Sanchez had three hits on the night for Altoona and Lambo had two driven in for the second straight game.

The Curve (39-55) and the Aeros (50-46) will play their second game of the series on Tuesday. For the Curve, RHP Mike Colla (4-6, 3.65) will make the start and he will be opposed by LHP Matt Packer (3-9, 5.46). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio with pregame coverage on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network will begin at 6:35 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from July 18, 2011


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