Curve Stun, Then Stunned by Senators, 9-7
Published on July 15, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa - After coming back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead, Altoona Curve reliever Ramon Aguero was unable to keep the Harrisburg Senators off the board in the ninth, as Jesus Valdez blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Senators to a walk-off, 9-7 victory over Altoona on Thursday night at Metro Bank Park on City Island.
The Senators (45-47) would take an early 5-0 lead against Curve starter Jared Hughes in the first three innings of the contest before the Curve (55-35) would chip away at the deficit .
Against Senators starter Aaron Thompson, Altoona would plate three runs in the sixth inning, using an RBI double by Josh Harrison and a two-run homer by Matt Hague to draw within two.
Against Senators' reliever Cole Kimball in the bottom of the seventh inning, Curve pinch-hitter Anthony Norman was able to muscle a one-out, two-run homer that just cleared the right field wall to knot the score at 5-5. The Curve would take a 6-5 edge on a sacrifice fly hit by Harrison that scored Chase d'Arnaud.
Altoona would tack on another run to extend their lead to 7-5 in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Yung-Chi Chen lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Jordy Mercer to provide Altoona with another insurance run.
The insurance would evaporate quickly in the bottom of the ninth for the Curve as Harrisburg would get to reliever Aguero. A one-out walk issued to Chris Marrero and a base hit by Brad Coon put runners at first and second. A wild pitch advanced the duo to second and third respectively before Danny Espinosa's sac fly to center field scored Marrero and moved Coon to third. With the score at 7-6, the tying run at third and Aguero needing just one out, he issued a walk to Marvin Lowrance before issuing the three-run, walk-off homer to Valdez. It was Valdez's second homer of the game, and the Senators right-fielder finished the night 3-for-5 with 6 RBIs.
The Altoona Curve will look to even the series in the second of four games on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. LHP Jeff Locke (NR) will make his Double-A debut for the Altoona Curve. Locke was acquired along with Gorkys Hernandez and Charlie Morton in June 2009 from the Atlanta Braves organization in exchange for Nate McLouth. Locke was 9-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 starts for the Bradenton Marauders (Advanced - A). The Senators will oppose with lefty Ross Detwiler (1-1, 3.48). Airtime on flagship station ESPN 1430 WVAM and Altoona Curve Radio Network affiliates is 6:30 p.m.
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