Curve rocked by New Britian
June 12, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Curve dropped consecutive games for the first time in 15 contests as the New Britain Rock Cats grabbed their second straight against Altoona, 5-1 at New Britain Stadium on Thursday night.
The last time the Curve fell in back-to-back games was May 25 and 26 against the Trenton Thunder.
Altoona was unable to muster only one run and five hits off Ryan Mullins (6-4), who silenced the Curve bats over eight innings of work.
The Curve (27-36) dug themselves and early hole. New Britain scored a run off starter Josh Hill (4-7) in the first inning before they crossed the plate three times in the bottom of the third. The Rock Cats tacked on another run in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Erik Lis was the offensive hero of the evening with a 3-for-4 night with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
Hill, who pitched part of the 2007 season for New Britain (30-35) as a member of the Minnesota Twins farm club, lasted five innings and allowed five runs on six hits. Hill has not recorded a win since May 27.
The only Curve run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning, thanks to a Jason Bowers double to left-center field that brought home Shelby Ford, who walked earlier in the inning. That would cut the deficit to 5-1, but it's as close as Altoona would come despite the leadoff man reaching base in six of nine innings.
The Curve return to action on Friday to open a three game series against the Connecticut Defenders (Double-A/Giants) at Dodd Stadium. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. Southpaw Corey Hamman (3-5, 3.83) will take the mound for the Curve in search of his fourth straight win. Righty Adam Cowart (5-3, 3.41) will provide the pitching opposition for the Defenders.
Even though the Curve are on the road, there will be plenty of baseball at Blair County Ballpark on Friday. The Altoona Curve is once again proud hosts of the PIAA Baseball Championship games. The first of four games on Friday will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tickets for the contest are $8 for adults and $4 for students, as determined by the PIAA.
Altoona will return home to Blair County Ballpark to open a six-game homestand, which will start with a three-game series against the Reading Phillies on Tuesday, June 17 at 7:05 p.m. Great seats for the homestand, which will feature an appearance by former two-time M.V.P. Adam Hyzdu on Thursday, June 19, are still available. Tickets can be obtained over the phone by calling 877-99-CURVE, online at AltoonaCurve.com or in person at the Blair County Ballpark box office.
NOTES - Ford, who had recorded multiple hits in his last five games, had his streak snapped with an 0-for-3 performance...Pedro Powell, who had two of the Curve's six hits, enjoyed his first multi-hit game of the season...Thursday's loss also marks the first time the Curve have dropped a series in their last four tries. Trenton took three of four against the Curve during the May 23-26 series. Since then, Altoona had won their last four series against Bowie, Erie, New Britain and Connecticut.
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