Hit Parade Leads Curve to Thrashing of B-Mets
Published on June 17, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - A homer-happy Curve team blasted its way to a, 15-6, win over the Binghamton Mets on Sunday afternoon in the finale to claim a series win heading into the off day on Monday. Robbie Grossman, Quincy Latimore and Stefan Welch all went yard in the decisive win for the Curve while the team as a whole hammered out a season-high 20 total hits.
The homers came from the get-go when Grossman smashed his fourth of the season to leadoff the game in the first off B-Mets starter Greg Peavey (3-3). Grossman's leadoff home run was the first of the season for the Curve and the first since Starling Marte did it In New Britain on August 11, 2011.
Drew Maggi followed Grossman's homer with a double before he was caught stealing trying to advance to third during Jarek Cunningham's at bat. Cunningham wound up drawing a walk and moving to third after a Miles Durham double. With one away, Welch drove in the first of his four runs with a sac fly to put the Curve ahead 2-0.
A two-run lead wasn't enough for long as Travis Ozga smashed a three-run homer off the Curve starter Shairon Martis (5-2) in the bottom of the second to put Binghamton in front by one at 3-2.
This was the last time that Binghamton would lead in the game as Altoona immediately answered in the top of the third when Welch reached on an error and drove in Durham to tie it at three. Latimore made sure it wouldn't stay tied for long as he belted his sixth home run of the season to clear the bases and place Altoona in front for good at 5-3.
Altoona would add another run before the third inning was out as Evan Chambers drew a walk and scored on a fielding error later in the inning by centerfielder Juan Lagares to put the Curve up three.
Binghamton pulled to within two on two different occasions but never came any closer. The Curve ended up scoring one in the fifth, one in the seventh on Welch's first Double-A home run, two more in the eighth and then sent 10 men to the plate and scored five times in the ninth. Relief pitcher Jeff Inman also got in on the hit parade, grabbing the Curve's 20th hit of the afternoon in the ninth with an RBI single through the right side to place the final run of the day.
The 20 hits for the Curve are a season high and it's the first time that the Curve have eclipsed the 20-hit mark since August 7, 2010 when they had 22 hits in a win over Harrisburg at Metro Bank Park. Every member in the lineup had a hit while Durham, Welch and Latimore led the way with three hits apiece. Welch finished the day with four RBI to lead the team.
After an off day Monday, the Curve (31-36) return to the home confines of Peoples Natural Gas Field to open up a series with the New Britain Rock Cats beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. The first-ever appearance of the Cowboy Monkeys in Curve, Pa. will take place during the game on Tuesday as fans will get to be witness to the rodeo show that features monkeys riding dogs and herding sheep! It'll also be a Two-for-Tuesday at the ballpark presented by Atlantic Broadband with 2-for-1 offers on tickets, hot dogs and regular popcorns.
On the hill for the Curve in the opener will be RHP Phil Irwin (0-4, 4.58), who is still looking for his first Double-A win of 2012 after racking up 13 combined wins between Altoona and Bradenton in 2011. The Rock Cats, affiliates of the Minnesota Twins, are slated to send LHP Logan Darnell (4-4, 5.19) to the mound in the first game of the series.
Gates at Peoples Natural Gas Field will swing open at 6 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is slated for 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information on the upcoming homestand that features the Monkeys, the Double-A debut of Gerrit Cole, giveaways, fireworks and more, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at the ballpark.
Eastern League Stories from June 17, 2012
- Fisher Cats Outlast Bowie, 4-3, in 13 to Win Series - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Baysox Fall Short in Marathon Game - Chesapeake Baysox
- Squirrels Take Finale in 10 , 5-4 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Four Thunder Hurlers Combine for 4-0 Shutout of Harrisburg - Trenton Thunder
- Squirrels take Back-and-Forth Affair in 10 innings, 5-4 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Hit Parade Leads Curve to Thrashing of B-Mets - Altoona Curve
- B-Mets Shelled in Rubber Match, 15-6 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Aeros Fall at Reading, 4-2 - Akron RubberDucks
- Rock Cats Rally, But Seawolves Hold on for Sweep - New Britain Rock Cats
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Portland - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- B-Met Game Notes: vs Altoona Curve - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
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