EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Lead Evaporates in Loss to 'Dogs

Published on August 19, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


PORTLAND, Maine - A six-run seventh inning that included an Anthony Rizzo grand slam sunk the Altoona Curve on Thursday afternoon as they eventually fell to the Portland Sea Dogs, 9-8, at Hadlock Field. Portland erased a, 6-0, Curve lead to win the game and used five home runs in the process.

Altoona carried a, 6-3, lead into the seventh frame before the Sea Dogs sent 10 men to the plate against Curve pitching. Tom Boleska (1-1) started the inning and surrendered a leadoff home run to Ryan Lavarnway to bring Portland within two. After Lavarnway's home run, Boleska allowed three straight singles to load the bases with no one out.

Derek Hankins was summoned out of the 'pen and induced a pop up on the infield off the bat of Jose Iglesias for the first out. He then struck out Ray Chang looking for the second out and it looked as if Altoona might dance its way out of the inning. Rizzo followed with the grand slam, his second home run of the game, to put Portland up, 8-6. Luis Exposito homered following the grand slam of Rizzo to make it, 9-6.

The five home runs issued by the Curve pitching staff ties a season high and a franchise high for home runs allowed in one game as does the three home runs allowed in one inning.

Trailing, 9-6, the Curve bounced back with two runs of its own in the eighth inning to pull within one thanks to some timely hitting and some tough sunlight. Matt Hague singled and Jordy Mercer doubled to put runners at second and third with one down. Miles Durham brought Hague in with a sacrifice fly to pull Altoona within two. Kris Watts doubled in Mercer, thanks to the tough sun that blinded outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang and caused him to lose track of the ball, and Altoona trailed by just a run.

Anthony Norman was hit by a pitch and Jose de los Santos singled to load up the bases with two away but Ryne Reynoso got Chase d'Arnaud to ground out to end the inning and the threat.

Josh Harrison finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in the loss for Altoona. It was the first multi-homer game in Harrison's professional career. Starter Bryan Morris pitched well in five innings and was in line for the win before the Sea Dogs came back in the late innings. Morris tossed five innings of two-run ball while allowing three hits and striking out four.

Portland scored more runs in Thursday afternoon's game (nine) than they had in the previous five games of the season series combined (eight).

Altoona (71-52) now moves on to Binghamton where they'll play three games against the Binghamton Mets (AA - New York Mets) beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Friday from NYSEG Stadium. Reigning E.L. Pitcher of the Week Justin Wilson (10-6, 3.13), fresh off a career outing vs. New Hampshire, will start for Altoona while LHP Robert Carson (1-4, 7.71) makes the start for the B-Mets.

Pregame radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on flagship ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network.

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Eastern League Stories from August 19, 2010


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