EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Win a Wild One

Published on July 21, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ALTOONA, PA - At 12:29 a.m. Ray Chang singled home Steve Lerud as the Altoona Curve defeated the Reading Phillies (AA-Philadelphia Phillies) in a lengthy, wet, protested, and exciting contest that saw the Curve take a 6-5 10 inning contest Wednesday morning at Blair County Ballpark.

The game began with the Curve scoring in the opening frame when Pirates No. 3 prospect Jose Tabata doubled home second baseman Jim Negrych.

Curve starter Yoslan Herrera had another strong outing going having tossed 4.0 shutout innings allowing just three hits and striking out three when the rains came.

As rain had begun to fall going into the fifth inning Reading manager Steve Roadcap refused to send his batter up to the plate and after arguing with umpires he kept his players in the dugout until heavy enough rain came down for the umpires to call for the tarp.

A rain delay then ensued and thanks to a terrific effort from the Curve grounds crew and front office staff the rain drenched field was cleared and after a delay of two hours and five minutes play resumed, but not without the Curve officially playing the duration of the game under protest due to the Phillies refusal to take the field prior to the delay.

Following the delay Reading would score five unanswered runs including RBI singles by Carlos Leon and Brian Stavisky and an RBI double by 3B Neil Sellers.

The Curve would rally beginning when Miles Durham cracked his second Double-A home run of the season in the eighth inning to bring the Curve within two runs, 5-3. Then in the ninth Jose Tabata singled and then with two outs the stage was set for OF Jason Delaney who blasted a 2-2 pitch from Michael Zagurski (1-3) deep and into the left field bleachers to even the game at five and send the game into extra frames.

After Jean Machi (2-2) tossed his second shutout inning of the night Lerud led off the bottom of the 10th with a double before Chang slapped one down the left field line to end the more than five hour affair.

The Curve (36-60) and Phillies (52-43) meet for the third of four games Wednesday night at BCB. Probable starters for Wednesday are RHP Mike Crotta (4-5, 4.74) for the Curve and for Reading will be the Phillies No. 2 prospect Kyle Drabek (5-1, 3.25). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with radio coverage starting at 6:35 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network.

It will be another Win-It Wednesday at Blair County Ballpark where the first 2,000 fans all receive guaranteed winning scratch off tickets courtesy of WALY 103.9 and WTAJ-TV. Great seats are still available for Wednesday's contest. Fans can order tickets by calling 877-99-CURVE, online at altoonacurve.com, or at the Blair County Ballpark Box Office.

All fans in attendance Wednesday can redeem a free ticket to any remaining 2009 Curve home game, based on availability, for equal or lesser values as a thank you from the Curve organization to all the faithful fans that stuck it out throughout the lengthy delay.

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Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2009


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