EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Wins Another Thriller In Bottom Of Tenth

June 22, 2004 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


Ray Sadler's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Altoona Curve to its second straight walkoff victory over the Akron Aeros, 6-5 in 10 innings Tuesday night at Blair County Ballpark.

One night after Ronny Paulino belted a 10th-inning walkoff homer to earn the Curve a 5-4 win, Altoona (42-29) erased a 5-1 deficit entering the bottom of the eighth inning by scoring once in the eighth, three times in the ninth and once in the 10th to notch its 15th win in 19 games and improve to 10-1 against the defending Eastern League champion Aeros (31-40). The Curve also maintained its slim one-game lead over Erie, which defeated Portland 10-6 Tuesday night.

The Curve rally began in earnest after Akron starter Jeremy Guthrie left the game after seven strong innings. The right-hander outdueled Curve starter Bryan Bullington and seemed to be in position to earn his sixth win after allowing just one run on three hits.

However, the Curve began its rally in the eighth inning when Chris Duffy led off with a double against reliever Carl Sadler and then scored on an RBI groundout by Nate McLouth to make it 5-2.

Altoona then evened the game in the bottom of the ninth against Akron closer Lee Gronkiewicz thanks in part by Curve manager Tony Beasley playing his ace in the hole off the bench. With one and Ronny Paulino and Ray Sadler each in scoring position, Beasley called on the Eastern League's leading hitter Jeff Keppinger to pinch-hit and Keppinger came through, dropping a ball into centerfield that got just out of the reach of Aeros' centerfielder Scott Pratt and to the wall, allowing two runs to score and cutting the lead to 5-4. Yurendell DeCaster then tied the game at 5-5 by lifting a sacrifice fly to center that brought home Keppinger.

Jason Alcala (1-0), who was added to the Curve's roster earlier in the day from Class-A Lynchburg, was rewarded with the win in his Double-A debut by tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Alcala kept the Curve in the game down by four runs in the top of the seventh by entering the game with the bases loaded and two outs and getting Jason Cooper to fly out to end the frame.

Derrick Van Dusen (1-2) gave up the game-winning hit to Sadler in the bottom of the 10th and was saddled with the loss.

Three Curve players continued impressive streaks in the contest. Sadler's 2-for-5 performance increased his hitting streak to 11 straight games, while DeCaster blasted a solo home run off of Guthrie in the bottom of fifth, giving him homers in each of his last four games. DeCaster, the defending Eastern League Player of the Week, has also hit longballs in sixth of his last eight games to tie him with Josh Bonifay for the club lead with 11.

Meanwhile, McLouth went 2-for-4, meaning he has now reached base safely by way of hit or walk in 27 consecutive games to match J.J. Davis' club-record on-base streak from the 2002 season.

Ben Francisco knocked in three of the five runs for Akron, including a pair on sacrifice flies against Bullington.

The Curve starter earned a no-decision after giving up five runs--two earned--on six hits in a season-high 6 2/3 innings of work. Bullington walked two and struck out three in failing to win his sixth game for the third straight start.

Altoona will look to make it 3-for-3 against Akron Wednesday night as right-hander Ian Snell (5-3, 3.15) will make the start against former Indians' first rounder Dan Denham, who will be making his Double-A debut. Gametime is set for 7:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES: After playing just two extra-inning games in its first 64 contests, the Curve has played five such games over the last eight, going 4-1... DeCaster is one game shy of equaling Adam Hyzdu's club-record for most consecutive games with a home run (5)... Keppinger's pinch-hit, two-run triple in the ninth extended his on-base streak to 20 games and raises his average to .406... Shaun Skrehot, the Curve's all-time leader in games played and hits, was sent down from Triple-A Nashville today and went 0-for-5 in his first game. The 28-year old, who was hitting .293 with 5 HR and 15 RBI for the Sounds this season, became the first player in Curve history to play in five different seasons... Altoona has now posted six walkoff wins this season, three of which have come this homestand

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Eastern League Stories from June 22, 2004


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