Curve pitchers stifle Aeros in 3-0 win Sunday afternoon
June 25, 2006 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
AKRON, OH- Wardell Starling and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and Simon Pond and Craig Stansberry each homered as the Curve evened their three-game series against first-place Akron with a 3-0 shutout victory Sunday afternoon at Canal Park in Akron, OH.
Starling (1-0), who was making just his second Double-A start with the Curve, worked out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the bottom of the first inning and went on to work five scoreless innings to pick up the win. The 23-year old right-hander, who was the Pirates' fourth round selection in the 2002 draft, walked four batters and struck out four, while allowing just three hits.
Franklin Perez tossed three scoreless frames to keep the shutout in place before turning the game over to closer Brandon Knight, who picked up his team-high 13th save of the season after holding the league's top hitting club off the board in the ninth.
After being shut out by the Aeros in Saturday night's series opener, the Curve got on the board for the first time in the series on a two-run homer by Pond in the top of the second inning. The longball was his ninth of the season and briefly tied him with Stansberry for the club lead. In the sixth, Stansberry re-took the team lead in home runs with a solo shot off Akron starter Bear Bay.
Bay (4-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in six innings of work.
The victory ended the Curve's six-game losing skid against Akron and moved Altoona (44-30) within four games of the first-place Aeros in the E.L. South.
Altoona and Akron will play the rubber game of their three-game series Monday night at Canal Park. Left-hander Shane Youman (4-2, 1.65) will start for the Curve against Aeros' right-hander and Indians' top-rated prospect, Adam Miller (7-4, 3.75). First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.
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