Curve Win Fifth Straight with 6-3 Win
Published on May 19, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Shairon Martis allowed just one hit across six innings and led the Curve to a, 6-3, victory over Erie on Saturday night in front of 4,489 at Peoples Natural Gas Field to run their winning streak to five games, which is the first five-game win streak since the 2010 Curve won five straight from August 20-24. With the six innings of one-run ball, Martis now has pitched a total of 11 innings across his two home appearances and given up just one run.
Erie once again took an early lead in the game when Jordan Lennerton homered off Martis to leadoff the second but it was the only hit of the evening that Martis permitted. The Curve offense went to work in support of Martis in the third when they tied the game at one thanks to a wild pitch by SeaWolves starter Kelvin de la Cruz (2-5). It was Jeremy Farrell scampering home from third on the wild pitch after he reached to start the inning via the free pass and moved to third on a single by Miles Durham.
The third inning proved to be the first of four straight innings with at least one run for the Curve as they opened up a 5-1 lead over the 'Wolves through six. Altoona scored its run in the fourth without the benefit of a hit as Jarek Cunningham was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Ramon Cabrera came up with no one out and hit a grounder deep to third that brought Cunningham in for the Curve's second run of the game and it also gave Altoona a lead it did not relinquish.
In the fifth inning it was Farrell starting the rally once again, this time with a leadoff single to left. Durham followed with a triple to deep center that brought Farrell in and made it 3-1. Quincy Latimore subsequently brought Durham in with the sac fly to bring the lead to three at 4-1. The fifth Curve run on the evening once again came courtesy of Cabrera as he once again brought in Cunningham in the sixth.
The Howlers tried to mount a comeback in the late innings, scoring twice off reliever Matt McSwain in the seventh. Only one of the runs in the seventh inning off the Curve righty was earned, however, as an error by Farrell early in the inning gave Erie an extra out to play with. They'd threaten again against McSwain in the eighth but the righty danced around a two-out walk and another error to strand the tying run at first.
Altoona added on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth thanks to some heads up baserunning by Tony Sanchez as he was able to steal second off the pitcher Robbie Weinhardt before he even threw the pitch. It was the fifth steal of the game for the Curve, which is the most in a game for a Curve team since August 1, 2010. The stolen base proved vital as Matt Curry followed it with a triple laced to right-center field for the Curve's sixth and final run of the game.
Vic Black tossed a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts for his second save of the season.
Winners of five straight, the Curve (18-22) will look to complete back-to-back sweeps with a victory over Erie (20-20) in the 6 p.m. finale at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Sunday. Sunday night marks the return of Sunday Night Fireworks to the ballpark as we'll light up the skies of Curve, Pa. with a bedazzling postgame fireworks display. It'll also be a Community Collection Day as we ask fans to bring in pet food and supplies to help out the Central PA Humane Society.
Fans can also head down to the field before the game for a pregame catch on the field just after gates open from 5-5:20 p.m. After the game, kids can run around the bases.
Looking to lead the Curve to their sixth straight win will be RHP Tim Alderson (2-1, 2.57), who started this winning streak with five solid innings in his first start of 2012 on May 15 at Bowie. He'll be opposed by Erie lefty Ramon Garcia (2-2, 6.00), who has yet to face the Curve in 2012.
Gates for the finale will swing open at 5 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430 and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information on the current Curve homestand, call 877.99.CURVE, visit www.AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Eastern League Stories from May 19, 2012
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- Aeros Roll over Squirrels - Akron RubberDucks
- Aeros Pound Squirrels Again, 15-5 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Curve Win Fifth Straight with 6-3 Win - Altoona Curve
- Karstens to Rehab in Curve, PA on Monday - Altoona Curve
- Offense Struggles in 6-3 Loss - Erie SeaWolves
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- Erie SeaWolves at Altoona Curve - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Akron - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Flying Squirrels Transactions: 5/19 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- B-Mets Roster Update: 5/19 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
- Weglarz Rejoins Aeros, Radeke to Captains - Akron RubberDucks
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