EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Game Notes June 18

Published on June 18, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


The Altoona Curve and New Britain Rock Cats will meet for the last time in the 2009 season in tonight's doubleheader. The Rock Cats swept the Curve in the first three game series last week at New Britain. The Curve snapped a five-game losing streak against the Rock Cats on Tuesday with a 6-4 win at Blair County Ballpark.

FOR ALTOONA: RHP Brad Lincoln will be on the mound in game one tonight. Lincoln has been the Curve's most successful starter all season, leading the team in ERA (2.20), innings pitched (69.2), and strikeouts (69). Lincoln nearly broke a franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings back in May when he tossed 20.1 innings of shutout baseball. Lincoln was the Pirates' first-round selection in the 2006 June Draft from the University of Houston. He missed the entire 2007 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

LHP Kyle Bloom will make his eighth start of the season for the Altoona Curve and his second of the year against New Britain in the second game tonight. Last time out against the Rock Cats Bloom was the victim of having five unearned runs score in a 1.2 inning start, his shortest of the season. On 6/5 versus Akron, Bloom did not factor in the decision against the Aeros despite tossing 6.0 shutout innings of two-hit baseball

FOR NEW BRITAIN: RHP Matt Fox will be on the hill for the Rock Cats in game one. Fox will be making his 12th start of the season and comes in as New Britain's hottest pitcher riding a four game win streak over his last five starts that has seen him lower his ERA from 4.32 to 2.64. In those five games Fox tossed 31.1 innings and gave up just four runs and recorded 21 strikeouts.

RHP Carlos Gutierrez gets the start in game two for New Britain. It will be his third double-a start this season after beginning the year in single-A Fort Myers. Despite going 2-3 in 10 starts at Fort Myers Gutierrez posted a 1.32 ERA including a stretch of three consecutive outings without allowing an earned run from 5/11-5/22

GORKYS GETTING GOING: Newly acquired outfielder Gorkys Hernandez finally showed why he was the number four rated prospect in the Braves organization last night. After a rough first few weeks Gorkys went 2-for-5 last night with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.

PERFECT PACHECO: Outfielder Jonel Pacheco enjoyed a perfect 4-for-4 plate performance Tuesday against New Britain. Pacheco has been the leader of the Curve offense all season, leading the team in home runs (6), RBIs (30), hits (57), and is tied for the lead in multi hit games (15) and extra base hits (15). With the outstanding outing last night Pacheco also matched his season best hitting streak, which now stands at six games.

HOORAY FOR JOSE: The Curve welcomed home outfielder Jose Tabata to Blair County Ballpark and Tabata obliged by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in a very gutsy effort on Tuesday.

BULLPEN REVIVAL: After a lot of struggles over the past month, the Curve bullpen came to life against the E.L North. In seven games at New Britain and Connecticut the ‘pen tossed 22.1 innings and allowed just five runs on 21 hits for an amazingly low 2.02 ERA.

LAND OF LINCOLN LANDS PRAISE: Tonight will be "Land of Lincoln" night at Blair County Ballpark. The Curve is offering numerous Lincoln-related promotions featuring the former President and tonight's starting pitcher, Brad Lincoln. This promotion has landed the Curve in the Top 10 upcoming promotions rated by Minor League Baseball. This is only the second time in as many weeks that the team has been featured in the MILB.com rankings.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS: JUNE 17: C Milver Reyes added from Lynchburg (A) roster...JUNE 16: C Miguel Perez promoted to Indianapolis (AAA)...JUNE 12: RHP Tyler Herron signed as a minor league free agent and assigned to Double-A Altoona...RHP Moises Robles sent to Lynchburg (A)...JUNE 10: OF Jose Tabata activated from the Disabled List...INF Pedro Lopez promoted to Indianapolis (AAA)... JUNE 6: LHP Corey Hamman added from Indianapolis (AAA)...RHP Josh Hill placed on State College (A) roster

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Eastern League Stories from June 18, 2009


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