Curve Falls Below .500 Mark with 7-3 Loss to Portland
June 2, 2003 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(ALTOONA, PA)- The Portland Sea Dogs scored six of their seven runs in the first two innings of the game and cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Altoona Curve on Monday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The loss, the Curve's sixth in its last seven games, drops the club's record to 27-28 overall and 9-14 at Blair County Ballpark. Portland, the first-place team in the Eastern League's Northern Division, improved to 30-22 and increased its lead to three full games over second-place Trenton.
The Sea Dogs, facing Altoona for the first time as an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, did most of their damage against Curve starter Mike Connolly. The left-hander, who was pitching on his 21st birthday, had little to celebrate after a 41-pitch first inning in which he walked the first three batters he faced, hit a batter and allowed a two-run single as part of a four-run inning.
Connolly would allow two more runs in the second on a two-run double by Kelly Shoppach before departing the game trailing 6-0. He allowed six runs (all earned) in his two innings of work, walking a season-high three and striking out four to take his third consecutive loss in falling to 3-5 on the season. Connolly entered the start with the Eastern League's eighth-best ERA at 2.27, but left with a 3.54 mark.
The Curve avoided being blown out in the contest thanks to the solid work of reliever Clint Chrysler. The left-hander, pitching in just his third game of the season, allowed just one run over a career-high 5.0 innings to eat up some valuable innings for the Curve bullpen.
Meanwhile, Portland starter Josh Stevens (7-1) scattered nine hits and allowed just one run in his seven innings of work to notch the win for the Sea Dogs. The only run he allowed came on an RBI single by Shaun Skrehot in the second inning.
The Curve's 11-hit attack was led by Shawn Garrett, who went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Skrehot (2-for-4) posted his third straight multi-hit game at Blair County Ballpark and his fourth in his last five home games.
The Curve and Sea Dogs will play game two of their three-game series Tuesday night at Blair County Ballpark. The Curve will send left-hander Tom Fordham to the mound to make his first start for the Curve. The 29-year old veteran was added to Altoona's roster prior to Monday's game to take the place of Ben Shaffar, who was placed on the Disabled List with a sore right knee. Portland will counter with right-hander Junior Herndon (2-3, 5.56). Gametime is set for 7:05 p.m.
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Eastern League Stories from June 2, 2003
- Curve Falls Below .500 Mark with 7-3 Loss to Portland - Altoona Curve
- Shaffar Placed on LD, Fordham Added from Nashville - Altoona Curve
- EL Names Players of the Week - Shreveport-Bossier Bombers
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