EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve sweep Sens

Published on August 7, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


HARRISBURG- The Altoona Curve's season-long, 11-game road trip opened in impressive fashion Thursday with a pair of one-run victories as part of a doubleheader sweep of the Harrisburg Senators at Commerce Bank Park. Altoona took game one, 4-3, before earning a come-from-behind, 6-5 victory in the nightcap.

Altoona (54-66) earned the twinbill sweep on the heels of losing five of six games on their most recent homestand at Blair County Ballpark. The Curve were outscored, 57-14, in being swept by Bowie and losing two of three to Akron. Harrisburg (64-55) received a blow to their playoff chances, dropping to 3 1/2 games behind Bowie in the race for the E.L. South Wild Card spot.

In game two, Jason Bowers delivered a game-tying, two-out, two-strike RBI triple, then scored the eventual winning run on James Boone's RBI single as Altoona capped off the doubleheader sweep with a 6-5 win. Bowers was down to a final strike against Harrisburg closer Adam Carr before slicing a long fly ball to the right-field corner, allowing Jonel Pacheco to score from second base with the tying run. Boone's game-winning hit was hit third of the night between the two games.

Blair Johnson (1-0) won his first game in a Curve uniform despite being charged with a blown save after failing to hold a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Johnson relieved Derek Hankins with one out in the sixth and allowed two inherited runners to score before giving up a go-ahead RBI single to pinch-hitter Seth Bynum.

Despite receiving a no-decision, Hankins was sharp throughout the game, striking out a personal season-high eight batters over 5 1/3 innings.

Ronald Belisario pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to earn his team-leading seventh save.

In the earlier contest, Christian Castorri fired five strong innings to earn his first win of the season and Josh Shortslef tossed two perfect innings to earn the save as the Curve opened their season-long, 11-game road trip with a 4-3 win over the Harrisburg Senators in game one of Thursday's doubleheader at Commerce Bank Park in Harrisburg.

Castorri (1-2), making only his third start for Altoona, shook off three early runs and lasted through five innings to pick up the victory.

Jamie Romak was the offensive star of the game one win, knocking in three of the Curve's four runs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the top of the fifth inning, which gave Altoona a 4-3 lead. Shelby Ford also contributed to the Altoona win with a three-hit game.

Steve Schmoll (2-3) surrendered Romak's go-ahead double and took the loss.

The Curve and Senators will play the third game of their five-game weekend series Friday evening at 6:35 p.m. Yoslan Herrera (5-8, 3.11) will make his first start for Altoona since being optioned from Pittsburgh, while Harrisburg will counter with righty Zack Segovia (1-1, 9.30). Fans can hear all the action on the Curve Radio Network and on-line at AltoonaCurve.com starting at 6:20.

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Eastern League Stories from August 7, 2008


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