Curve Rally Falls Short
August 16, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA, PA - The Altoona Curve trailed by six runs entering the ninth inning, rallied to bring the tying run to the plate, but fell just short in their series finale with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA-Toronto Blue Jays) losing 9-7 Sunday night at Blair County Ballpark. The loss gives the Curve a split in the season series 3-3 as the teams do meet for the rest of the 2009 season.
The Fisher Cats jumped out with four runs in the top of the second inning and then added two runs in the third and three more in the fourth, all off of Curve starter Mike Crotta (6-7). Crotta tossed 3.0+ innings allowing nine runs, four earned, on nine hits for his first loss since 7/22.
The Curve scored on a RBI double by Ray Chang and a two RBI triple by CF Gorkys Hernandez in the early innings . Chang finished the night 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI while Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs.
Shelby Ford fueled a bigger part of the ninth inning comeback attempt with a two-run double, Ford would finish 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two walks. Miles Durham also contributed an RBI double in the ninth, but was stranded on second as C Steve Lerud grounded out to end the Sunday's ballgame.
Pirates No. 1 prospect Pedro Alvarez extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a double in the eighth inning. Alvarez is now one game shy of the Curve's longest on-base streak this season of 16 games set by Jim Negrych from 4/13 to 5/8.
The Curve (50-71) now have a day off before hitting the road for a seven games at Harrisburg and Bowie. Altoona first travels to Harrisburg to take on the Harrisburg Senators (AA-Washington Nationals) for a three game series. Lefty Kyle Bloom (4-8, 4.09) will be on the hill for the Curve, he will be opposed by Senators' southpaw Aaron Thompson (0-1, 4.22). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with radio coverage kicking off at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Altoona Curve Radio Network.
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Eastern League Stories from August 16, 2009
- Baysox Find A Gem - Chesapeake Baysox
- Fisher Cats Hang on for 9-7 Victory over Curve on Sunday Night - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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- Curve hold the line on 2010 season ticket prices - Altoona Curve
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