Four-run ninth lifts Harrisburg to rare win at BCB
July 10, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA-- Ryan Zimmerman and pinch-hitter Edgar Gonzalez each drilled two-run doubles as part of a four-run ninth inning that lifted the Harrisburg Senators to a 7-3 win over the Curve Sunday night before 8,036 fans at Blair County Ballpark.
Harrisburg (42-47) had lost their last nine games at Blair County Ballpark and 15 of their last 16 dating back to the 2003 season. The loss cost Altoona (47-41) an opportunity to move into a first place tie in the E.L. South after the Aeros overtook Erie with a 7-3 win over the SeaWolves Sunday afternoon.
With the score tied at 3-3 in the ninth, the Senators loaded the bases after one out thanks to three walks by Curve reliever Shane Youman. Zimmerman, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, broke the tie with a two-run double over the head of right fielder Jorge Cortes. Gonzalez then followed with his two-bagger off the center field wall. Youman (3-5) gave up all four runs in just 1/3 inning to suffer the loss.
Curve starter Romulo Sanchez, making his second start since being called up from rookie-level Bradenton earlier in the week, allowed three runs on five hits in five innings of work to receive a no-decision in what likely was his final outing with the Curve. Sanchez is expected to return to the Gulf Coast League over the upcoming All-Star Break. The 21-year old gave up a first-inning solo homer to Dan Dement and a two-run shot in the fourth to Dee Haynes as Harrisburg took a 3-1 lead.
Altoona evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth when Tom Evans drilled a two-run homer to left--his 10th of the season. Evans also knocked in the Curve's first run with a single in the first inning that scored Javier Guzman, who reached third base on a triple. Evans and Guzman each had two hits, while Josh Bonifay's fourth-inning double extended his team-high hitting streak to 10 games.
Danny Rueckel (5-5) pitched a scoreless eighth inning of relief and was credited with the win for Harrisburg. Starter Darrell Rasner took a no-decision after going six innings and allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out eight.
The Curve and Senators will complete their four-game series at Blair County Ballpark Monday at Noon. Altoona will send right-hander Paul Stewart (4-9,4.86) to the mound against Zach Day (1-0, 2.25), who will be making his third major league rehab start with the Senators. The Washington Nationals' righty is looking to work his way back to the major leagues after fracturinga bone in his hand earlier this season.
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