Erie blasts Curve, 13-4, to move back into first
July 6, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA-- The Erie SeaWolves scored nine runs over the final two innings to break open a close game and went on to a 13-4 victory over the Altoona Curve Wednesday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The victory moved the SeaWolves (46-39) back into first place in the E.L. South, 1/2 game ahead of the Curve, who had entered Wednesday's action on top of the division. Altoona (45-39) dropped out of first place for the third straight time dating back to Sunday after gaining the lead the previous day.
Erie grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the second inning against Curve starter Paul Stewart and never lost the lead in improving to 19-8 in their last 27 games against Altoona at Blair County Ballpark. Stewart (4-9) was charged with four runs on seven hits in six innings of work in dropping his fifth consecutive decision.
The Curve did respond with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI groundout by Craig Stansberry and a run-scoring single by Javier Guzman to cut the Erie lead to 3-2.
The SeaWolves extended their lead to 7-2 after a run in the third against Stewart and three more in the eighth against reliever Greg Martin before the Curve got back-to-back homers from Josh Bonifay and Jorge Cortes to cut the lead to 7-4. The homers were surrendered by Erie starter Humberto Sanchez (3-2), who left the game after working a season-high 7 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
Leading by three runs entering the ninth, Erie erupted for six unearned runs in the ninth inning against Jeremy Harts to ice the game away. Chris Maples and Juan Francia each recorded two-run singles as part of the outburst. Six SeaWolves' hitters posted two or more hits as part of their 16-hit attack.
Bonifay, Cortes and Tom Evans each recorded two hits in the loss for Altoona.
The Curve and SeaWolves will wrap up their four-game series at Blair County Ballpark Thursday night at 7:05 PM. In one of the top pitching matchups of the season, Curve lefty Tom Gorzelanny (4-3, 3.41) will square off against Eastern League strikeout leader Joel Zumaya (7-3, 2.90) of the SeaWolves. Both pitchers will be participating in the E.L. All-Star Game next Wednesday in Portland, while Zumaya will also be playing the Major League All-Star Futures Game in Detroit on Sunday.
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