Curve Tie Franchise Hit Record in 10-2 Win at Akron
Published on May 7, 2003 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(AKRON, OH) -- Jose Castillo and the Altoona Curve had a record day Wednesday in the club's 10-2 thumping of the Akron Aeros before 8,979 at Canal Park.
Castillo became the fourth Curve player in franchise history to record a five-hit game. Meanwhile, the club as a whole matched a two-year old standard by banging out 21 hits in the victory.
Castillo went 5-for-6 with five singles, an RBI, and two runs scored. Humberto Cota (2000), Adrian Brown (2001), and Tony Alvarez (2002) were the others to have set and matched the five-hit game mark.
The 21-hit barrage by the Curve tied the club record previously set on May 1, 2001 at Blair County Ballpark in a win over Harrisburg.
With the victory, Altoona (16-14) improved to 6-2 on its current road trip. Akron fell to 17-15 with the loss.
The Curve jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Akron right-hander Fernando Cabrera (2-1). Chan Perry knocked in Castillo with the first of his three hits on the day.
After Akron tied the game on a Ryan Church home run in the fourth, the Curve seized the lead for good in the fifth. A two-out, two-run double by the red-hot Josh Bonifay gave Altoona a 3-1 advantage.
Starter Mike Connolly (2-1) and two relievers made the lead stand up. Connolly worked 5 1/3 innings, yielding one run on five hits to notch the victory. The lefty walked two and fanned two.
Lefty Mike Johnston pitched 1 2/3 scoreless frames, before Neal McDade finished up allowing one run over the final two innings.
The Curve scored seven times against Aeros' reliever Kyle Evans. Perry (RBI single) and Kevin Nicholson (two-run single) had the key hits in a four-run seventh. Chris Duffy, who finished with three hits, and Castillo each counted run-producing singles in a three-run ninth.
Shawn Garrett had four hits--including two doubles--and scored three runs for the Curve. Every Curve player except Joe Caruso counted at least one hit and six Altoona batters had two or more safeties.
The Curve tries to sweep the series in Akron Thursday with a 12:05 p.m. game. Right-hander Ben Shaffar (0-1, 4.50) will duel with Akron right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (4-0, 1.30).
Eastern League Stories from May 7, 2003
- Eastern League News - EL1
- Curve Tie Franchise Hit Record in 10-2 Win at Akron - Altoona Curve
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