Knuckleballs & Rain Too Much for Altoona on Friday Night
Published on July 29, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
PORTLAND, Maine - Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (1-0) kept the Curve hitters off balance in his first start with the Sea Dogs in a, 6-2, rain-shortened Portland victory in the second game of a four-game series on Friday night at Hadlock Field. The game was completed early as the rains came just before the top of the seventh inning was scheduled to begin.
The 'Dogs opened the scoring in the first inning off starter Mike Colla (4-8) when third baseman Will Middlebrooks delivered a one-out double to bring home Alex Hassan and Chih-Hsien Chiang to make it 2-0 Sea Dogs.
Colla settled down through the second and third but Altoona still had no answer for the knuckleballer Haeger until the fifth when Kris Watts and Yunesky Sanchez singled back-to-back with two down. Starling Marte got a good piece of the knuckler from Haeger with two on and he doubled to left to bring Watts in to cut the lead to 3-1.
Portland then erupted for three runs to answer back in the bottom of the fifth off reliever Tim Alderson, who didn't finish the frame. The three runs came on a run-scoring fielder's choice from Chiang, a double from Mark Wagner and Tim Federowicz single as Alderson lasted just 0.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits. Aaron Thompson came on to get the final out of Jon Hee in the fifth but when it was all said and done, Portland was in front 6-1.
Andrew Lambo cut the lead to four when he hit a solo home run to answer back in the top of the sixth. It was Lambo's third home run of the year and his second hit of the night as he and Yunesky Sanchez each had a pair of hits to lead the offense on Friday night.
Colla lasted four innings in his 17th start of the year and permitted the three runs on five hits to suffer his eighth loss of the campaign. Thompson pitched the final 1.1 innings of the rain-shortened contest and did not allow a run.
With the series now even at a game apiece, Altoona (45-60) and the Sea Dogs (44-61) will meet for Game 3 beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday night at Hadlock Field. RHP Kyle McPherson (4-3, 3.08), who started the first game of this seven-game road trip, makes the start for the Curve while RHP Brock Huntzinger (5-8, 6.86) makes his 19th start of the year for the Sea Dogs.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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