Fisher Cats sweep Curve in doubleheader
June 3, 2006 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (24-29) completed a doubleheader sweep over the Altoona Curve (33-23) Saturday night with a 8-3 victory in game two at Blair County Ballpark. New Hampshire used yet another five-run inning in the fourth to help secure the win. The Fisher Cats had two five-run innings in game one to overcome a 6-1 Curve lead and eventually won 11-6 in extra innings.
New Hampshire scored five times in the fourth--three of which were earned. Right fielder David Smith lined a ground-rule double to left driving home Vito Chiaravalloti, which opened the floodgates. A throwing error by third baseman Brandon Chaves extended the inning a few batters later, allowing the Fisher Cats to increase the lead.
Other than a Ray Sadler solo home run and a triple by Vic Buttler, the Curve offense was sluggish most of the game, only recording three hits. It was Buttler's league-leading 10th triple of the year.
Starter Davis Romero was very efficient for the Fisher Cats, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings.
In his third start of the season, hurler Chris Rojas (1-1) got the loss after allowing three earned runs off of two hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
New Hampshire tacked on three runs of run support in the sixth inning off of Curve newcomer Chad Blackwell. In his second appearance of the season, Blackwell gave up three runs on three hits.
In the opening game, a five-run lead wasn't enough for the Curve as the Fisher Cats scored five times in the sixth to force extra frames and five more in the eight to seal the victory. The combined losses marked the first time Altoona has dropped five games in a row all season.
Starter Mike Connolly glided through the first five innings in game one and appeared well on his way to his sixth victory when New Hampshire tagged him for four runs in the sixth. The southpaw tied his season high with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on six hits. The start was his 71st in a Curve uniform, breaking the old record of 70 set by ex-Curve hurler John Grabow.
Rodney Ormond (2-3) picked up the victory for the Fisher Cats after pitching the final five outs. Jorge Vasquez (1-2) got the loss after pitching the eighth and allowing five runs on three hits.
Brandon Knight had his streak of 17 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched broke when he allowed two Fisher Cats to cross the plate in the sixth. Knight, who previously had not allowed a run to score in his last 12 outings, settled down to finish the sixth and pitch a scoreless seventh.
A season-high 7,590 fans came out to cheer on the Curve and give Brady Williams "Greg Brady" a Blair County Ballpark welcome. Along with taking pictures and signing autographs Williams threw out the ceremonial first pitch and sang the seventh inning stretch as part of the Curve's ongoing Retro Celebrity Series.
With the two losses tonight the Curve fall to ½ game out of first place behind the Akron Aeros. The Aeros swept the Curve in a three-game series last weekend. The two do not meet again until June 24th.
Landon Jacobsen (5-5) is scheduled to pitch on Sunday for Altoona against New Hampshire's Ismael Ramirez (4-3). The first pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m., gates open at 5:00.
Eastern League Stories from June 3, 2006
- Fisher Cats Sweep Doubleheader, Extend Win Streak To Six - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Fisher Cats sweep Curve in doubleheader - Altoona Curve
- Three-Run 12th Propels Harrisburg To Victory - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Thunder fall to Reading - Trenton Thunder
- Fisher Cats come from behind to win Game 1 in extras, 11-6 - Altoona Curve
- Redman Arrives and Chavez Goes - Harrisburg Senators
- 2006 EL All-Star fan balloting underway - Altoona Curve
- Jova sent to Triple-A Syracuse - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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