EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve earns blowout win

Published on August 15, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


MANCHESTER, NH- Jamie Romak homered twice and became the first Altoona player to record a six-RBI game in over two years as the Curve pummeled the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 12-0, in the opener of a three-game series Friday evening at Merchantsauto.com Stadium in Manchester.

Romak saved his best for last, hitting two-run homers in each of his final two at-bats. Earlier in the contest, he recorded RBI singles in the third and fifth innings to help Altoona build a 4-0 lead before the game was interrupted by a 54-minute rain delay in the fifth inning. Romak finished the night 4-for-5 and his six RBI's were the most by a Curve player since Brett Roneberg posted a half dozen on July 29, 2006 at Connecticut.

Overshadowed by Romak's big night was a four-hit effort from third baseman Jim Negrych, who rose his overall season batting average between Altoona and Class-A Lynchburg to .362 with four hits in five at-bats. Jose Tabata, Jonel Pacheco and Brad Corley each contributed two hits and the other four Curve starters -- Shelby Ford, Steve Lerud, Melvin Dorta and Angel Gonzalez -- all had one hit as part of an 18-hit effort.

The 18-hit attack fell just one shy of a season high and helped the Curve (56-71) match the largest shutout victory in franchise history. Altoona's other 12-0 blowout victory came on August 22, 2004 against the Bowie Baysox.

On the mound, left-hander Kyle Bloom (4-7) cruised to his fourth win with 5 1/3 shutout innings. Bloom allowed only one hit over four innings before the rain delay, but returned after play resumed to work into the sixth inning and qualify for the victory. Ronald Belisario's 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Moises Robles' perfect ninth closed out the four-hit shutout.

New Hampshire starter Robert Ray (6-5) allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings to suffer the loss.

Altoona is now 4-5 over the first nine games of its season-long 11-game road trip and will continue the series against the Fisher Cats Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. The Curve will send righty Jared Hughes (1-1, 4.76) to the mound against New Hampshire righty and former Pittsburgh Pirate Marty McLeary (0-0, 7.27). Fans can hear all the action on the Curve Radio Network and on-line at AltoonaCurve.com starting at 6:50 with the Curve GameDay Show presented by the Hotel Belmar and Budget Beverage.

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Eastern League Stories from August 15, 2008


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