Eight-Run Rally Gives Curve Comeback Win
Published on May 4, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - With eight unanswered runs between the fourth and seventh innings, the Curve roared back from a 6-0 deficit and rolled to an 8-7 series-opening win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
The first contest of four in three nights for the Curve and Squirrels looked to be heading firmly in the visitors' direction early. Richmond grabbed the game's early momentum with a run in the first and another in the second on RBI doubles by Ryan Cavan and Wendell Fairley. The Squirrels added another in the third on a run-scoring single by Tommy Joseph and then appeared to break the game open with a three-run fourth highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Johnny Monell and Ehire Adrianza all adding up to a 6-0 lead.
All six runs went charged as earned to Curve starter Mike Colla who departed in line for the loss after six innings but exited as his own offense began to come alive.
Altoona got on the board with a three-run fourth of its own, getting RBIs from Charlie Cutler and Kelson Brown in the inning, and drew one run closer in the fifth when Matt Curry drove home Robbie Grossman to cut the Squirrels' advantage to 6-4.
The Curve fifth chased Richmond starter Jason Stevenson who didn't factor into the decision and failed to make it through five innings for the fourth time in six starts.
In the bottom of the seventh, Altoona took over. Against Richmond relievers Ari Ronick (0-1) and Jake Dunning, the Curve broke out for four runs on five hits. Curry, Jeremy Farrell, Quincy Latimore, and Brown all batted in runs during the inning with Farrell extending his season-long hitting streak to six games with an RBI double to get the game tied. Latimore's single two batters later plated Farrell with the go-ahead run.
The Altoona bullpen didn't falter with the advantage. Tim Alderson and Vic Black combined to finish off the opener with three innings of work, two of them from Alderson (1-0) who earned the win. Black (S, 1) allowed an inconsequential run in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Saturday, the Squirrels and Curve hook up for a doubleheader in Curve, Pa. with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Altoona will send lefty Nathan Baker (2-3, 6.94) in game one against Richmond's Chris Heston (2-2, 1.21) with Baker looking to snap a personal three-game skid. Former big leaguer Shairon Martis (0-0, 0.00) takes the hill for Altoona in the nightcap. The Peoples Natural Gas Field gates open at 4 p.m., and airtime on ESPN 1430 in Altoona and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 4:30.
Postgame fireworks presented by US. Foods & WTAJ-TV are in store on a Curve, Pa. Blue Out Saturday with Altoona wearing special blue jerseys as they will on Saturdays all season long in support of child abuse awareness and Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania. For tickets and more information, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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