EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Salvage Finale Against B-Mets with 6-3 Win

Published on June 30, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


BINGHAMTON, NY - The Altoona Curve were able to salvage the final game of a three-game series and come back from an early two-run deficit and hang on for a 6-3 victory against the Binghamton Mets (AA - New York Mets) on Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium.

Altoona Curve starter Justin Wilson and Binghamton Mets starter Mike Antonini were mired in a pitcher's duel through the first half of the game. Antonini retired the first nine batters he faced to start the game and Wilson enjoyed a string of 10 in a row retired before it was Wilson that gave up the first offense in the contest. In the bottom of the fourth, a two-out double by Sean Ratliff who was knocked home by Mike Nickeas put the B-Mets up, 1-0.

Binghamton (41-37) would add to their lead in the fifth inning with a two-out solo home run off the bat of Kirk Nieuwenhuis to take a 2-0 advantage.

Altoona (50-28) was finally able to solve Antonini in the top of the sixth inning. Back-to-back singles by Chase d'Arnaud and Gorkys Hernandez ignited the offense. Josh Harrison plated d'Arnaud with an RBI double to cut the Curve lead in half. Matt Hague's ground out tied the score at two apiece before Jordy Mercer stepped to the plate and hit a sac fly to right field to bring home Harrison and give Altoona a lead they would not relinquish.

In the eighth, d'Arnaud, who finished the night 3-for-5, scored on a wild pitch uncorked by Emary Frederick to put the Curve up 4-2. Later in the frame, back-to-back RBI singles from Hector Gimenez and Miles Durham gave the Curve a 6-2 edge.

Altoona would need one of those three insurance runs in the ninth inning as the B-Mets rallied for a run on three hits off of reliever Tony Watson before Diego Moreno came on to strike out pinch-hitter Michael Bubbard to end the game.

Wilson was able to record his first win since June 8 by hurling 6.0 solid innings allowing just the two runs on four hits while striking out six.

The Altoona Curve will continue their seven-game road trip as they move on to Reading to take on the R-Phils at First Energy Stadium in game one of a four-game series on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Altoona will send RHP Tim Alderson (6-4, 4.87) to the hill while Reading will oppose with RHP Mike Cisco. Airtime on flagship station ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and Altoona Curve Radio Network affiliates is 6:35 p.m.

NOTES: Chase d'Arnaud has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games, a string which began on June 11 with a 4-for-5 performance vs. New Britain. d'Arnaud has raised his average 20 points (.230 to .250) over that span...Hector Gimenez snapped out of a 1-for-18 slump with his eighth inning RBI single...The win for Altoona snapped Binghamton's six-game winnings streak which was the longest current win streak in the Eastern League

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Eastern League Stories from June 30, 2010


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