Erie defeats Curve on 11th inning homer, 6-3
Published on July 19, 2004 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
Altoona, PA- Juan Tejeda belted a three-run homer in the top of the 11th inning to lift the Erie SeaWolves past the Altoona Curve 6-3 in the opener of a three-game series Monday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The Curve (57-38), which entered the game with a season-high eight-game lead over both Erie and Bowie for first place in the Southern Division, saw its lead shrink to 6 1/2 games after the Baysox' doubleheader sweep of Reading Monday night. Erie (49-44) fell into third place, but gained a game on Altoona in the standings.
Tejeda touched up Curve reliever Brady Borner for the 11th inning longball--his 16th of the season. Borner, Altoona's fourth pitcher of the night, suffered the loss to fall to 5-5 on the season.
Though they rallied from a 3-0 deficit to even the game at 3-3 in the seventh, the Curve failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities to score runs throughout the night. Despite 17 hits, Altoona stranded a season-high 15 men on base, including 10 in scoring position.
The Curve had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth with runners at second and third and two outs, but Yurendell DeCaster grounded out to third, ending his club's last scoring threat of the night.
Roberto Novoa (4-0), a former Pirates' farmhand dealt to the Tigers in the deal that brought Randall Simon to the Pirates in November 2002, tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th to earn the win. Brian Schmack gave up a one-out single to Josh Bonifay in the 11th, but retired the next two batters to close out the game and notch his fourth save of the season.
Ian Snell started for the Curve and, after allowing three runs over the first three innings, settled down to hold the SeaWolves to those three runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander left the game trailing 3-0, but was taken off the hook thanks to a three-run Curve seventh that included RBI doubles from Chris Duffy and Ryan Doumit and a run-scoring single by Nate McLouth.
Shaun Skrehot led the Curve's 17-hit attack by going 4-for-5, while Duffy chipped in with three hits. All nine Altoona hitters recorded at least one safety.
The Curve and SeaWolves will continue their three-game set Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Blair County Ballpark. In a matchup of former first round picks, Altoona right-hander Bryan Bullington (6-5, 3.89) will face off against Erie righty Kenny Baugh (6-6, 3.89).
Fans attending Tuesday's game will have a chance to be treated like royalty as the Curve will welcome the franchise's two millionth fan through the gates. Several great prizes, including season tickets for life and trips to PNC Park in Pittsburgh will be awarded to that one lucky fan. Also, the Curve will host its annual "Bark in the Park" night as fans will be invited to bring their dogs to Blair County Ballpark to enjoy the game. There will also be a special visit from Skyy Dogs USA & Rockin' Ray.
Eastern League Stories from July 19, 2004
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