Curve Splits Twin-Bill With Senators
Published on May 13, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
HARRISBURG- Game One: Luis Munoz improved to (5-0) on the year with another commanding performance and both Randy Ruiz and Jason Bowers homered as the Curve took game one of the doubleheader from Harrisburg 3-1.
Munoz worked 5 1/3 innings, struck out seven and allowed just one earned run on two hits to pick up the victory. Harrisburg grabbed the lead with one of those two hits, a solo home run by Juan Melo in the first inning which put the Senators in front 1-0.
After Munoz settled in, the Curve turned the game around in the fourth inning. With one out in the inning, Randy Ruiz hit his fifth home run of the season over the left-field wall off of Senators' starter Jim Magrane (0-3) to tie the game 1-1. After striking out Neil Walker, Magrane walked Steven Pearce and Brandon Chaves to put runners at first and second base. Milver Reyes followed with a ground-rule double to the gap in left-field to score Pearce and give the Curve a 2-1 lead.
Bowers capped the scoring at 3-1 when he led off the fifth inning and drilled the first pitch out of the ballpark to left-field. The blast, which was also allowed by Magrane, was the first of the year for Bowers.
Munoz departed with one out in the sixth inning after hitting Melo and walking Josh Whitesell. The Curve turned to closer Matt Peterson who promptly struck out Dan Dement and induced a pop-out to first base by Tony Blanco to end the threat.
Peterson remained perfect on the season, converting his seventh straight save opportunity, by working a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the Curve victory.
Game Two: Right-hander T.J. Nall (1-7), previously winless on the season, dominated the Curve for five innings as the Senators salvaged a split of Sunday's doubleheader witha 4-2 win in game two.
Nall kept Altoona off the scoreboard on just two hits over five innings. Nall struck out two in the outing to snap a personal seven-game season-opening losing streak.
Josh Shortslef didn't pitch badly for the Curve, allowing four runs, two earned, over 5 1/3 innings of work. Shortslef (0-4) was tagged with the loss however, to remain winless on the season.
The two starters were in control in the first three innings, but the Senators were able to break through against Shortslef in the fourth. Melvin Dorta walked to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second by Frank Diaz. A batter later, Shortslef walked Josh Whitesell to put two men aboard. Brandon Chaves then misplayed an infield single by Brandon Larson, and his throwing error allowed both runners to score to give Harrisburg the lead at 2-0.
Dorta got the Senators started again in the sixth with a single through the hole on the left side of the Curve infield. Shortslef then hit Diaz with a pitch to put runners at first and second base. Juan Melo sacrificed the runners to second and third and Whitesell scored both men with a two-run single to run the Senators advantage to 4-0.
The Curve attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh. Randy Ruiz doubled off of Zechry Zinicola to lead off the inning and scored on an Adam Boeve single to get the Curve on the board at 4-1. The Senators went back to the bullpen for Brett Campbell who promptly walked Brandon Chaves. Steven Pearce pinch-hit representing the tying run and popped a ball up to short left-field that fell for a base hit and loaded the bases with nobody out. Alex Fernandez then pinch-hit and Campbell got exactly what the Senators were looking for with a double-play ball on the infield. The double-play did score Boeve to make it 4-2. With two outs, Neil Walker pinch-hit and struck out swinging to end the ballgame.
Campbell earned his third save of the season by getting out of the jam in the seventh.
The Curve are off on Monday before returning to Blair County Ballpark to begin a six-game homestand on Tuesday at 6:35 PM. The Portland Sea Dogs, making their only trip of the year to Altoona, will be the opponent in a three-game series to begin the homestand. RHP Wardell Starling (1-3, 5.74) will make the start for Altoona against LHP Tommy Hottovy (0-4, 5.17).
Eastern League Stories from May 13, 2007
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- Sea Dogs Swept By Mets - Portland Sea Dogs
- Curve Splits Twin-Bill With Senators - Altoona Curve
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