EL1 Altoona Curve

Early Lead Fades Away in Third Straight Loss

Published on July 9, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - An early four-run lead for the Curve evaporated on Wednesday night as the SeaWolves scored the game's final six runs to claim a, 6-4, win in the fourth game of the five-game series. Stetson Allie led the offense with a three-hit day while driving in a run.

Altoona built an early lead for starter Pat Ludwig (1-4) by scoring three times in the first with back-to-back-to-back RBI hits from Elias Diaz, Matt Curry and Allie.

In the third inning, Curry added his second RBI of the game with a sac fly that scored Dan Gamache and the Curve were up, 4-0.

Ludwig, who'd faced the minimum through three allowed three runs in the fourth to allow Erie to pull within one. Eastern League All-Star Steven Moya tripled home two of the runs in the fourth before former Curve catcher Ramon Cabrera grounded out to bring Moya home for the inning's third run.

Erie took the lead in the fifth when Daniel Fields grounded out to score Jamie Johnson after Dixon Machado had already scored earlier in the inning to tie the game.

Down a run, the Curve had a golden opportunity to score in the seventh inning when Alen Hanson and Gamache singled to start the inning off Jeff Ferrell. Guido Knudson was called into the game to face Diaz and the Curve decided to start the runners. Diaz shot a liner to right with the runners moving on the play and it turned out to be disastrous as Erie wound up turning a 9-3-6 triple play to end the inning and the threat.

The SeaWolves added the game's final run in the eighth off reliever Ryan Beckman to put the game out of reach.

Ludwig allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings while whiffing six. Hanson and Gamache had multi-hit games in the loss, which is the third in a row for the Curve after they'd won six straight.

The Curve (35-57) will aim for a victory in the 7 p.m. series finale with Erie (42-49) on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. We'll have Vincent M. Ward (Oscar) from AMC's The Walking Dead in the house on Thursday night for Zombie Night at the ballpark. Altoona will wear special Zombie-themed jerseys for the game on Thursday that will be auctioned off to benefit the American Red Cross. All fans that come dressed up as zombies will get into the game for free and can also partake in a mid-inning "Zombie Walk" during the game.

It'll also be a Thirsty ThursdayTM thanks to Rocky 104.9 with $2 16oz. Miller Lite drafts on special along with $2 22oz. regular sodas. Gates for the game will open at 5 p.m. as Ryan Matthew, along with guest drummer Steve Holtz, will have a pregame concert on the Rocky Gap Casino Resort Entertainment Deck from 5-6:15 p.m.

On the bump for the Curve on Thursday hoping to lead them to the finale win will be RHP Joan Montero (3-3, 4.31), who had his best outing as a starter last time out. He'll be opposed by RHP Tommy Collier (3-7, 6.02) of Erie on Thursday.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

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Eastern League Stories from July 9, 2014


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