Late Error Propels Curve To Third Straight Win At Akron
July 28, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
AKRON, OH- Neil Walker reached on a dropped fly ball to open the eighth inning and later scored the eventual game-winning run on an RBI single by Jason Delaney as the Altoona Curve won their third straight game over the Akron Aeros, 3-2, Saturday night at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio.
Walker opened the eighth inning against Aeros' reliever Jim Ed Warden and lifted a pop fly which was dropped by left fielder Chris Gimenez, giving the Curve a runner at second base to open the inning. Two batters later, Delaney, who had both a 13-game hitting streak and club-record 12-game RBI streak snapped one night earlier, roped a base hit to right field, which broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Curve the winning margin.
The win moves Altoona (55-49), which has won five straight and eight of nine on the road, to within 3 1/2 games of the wild card spot in the E.L. South. Akron (60-47) drops into second place behind the Erie SeaWolves in the E.L. South with the loss.
Dave Davidson (3-0) tossed two scoreless innings in relief of starter Dewon Brazelton to notch the win for Altoona. Closer Matt Peterson came on in the bottom of the ninth inning, and for the second straight night, set down the Aeros in order to earn his 20th save. Brazelton worked the first six innings for Altoona and allowed two runs on six hits in receiving a no-decision.
Warden (4-2) took the loss for Akron after being charged with the go-ahead run in the Curve eighth inning. Aeros starter Bobby Brownlie, a former first round pick of the Chicago Cubs, shook off a pair of early Altoona runs, and finished allowing just two runs over seven innings in his first start for Akron since being signed as a minor league free agent out of independent baseball.
The Curve built an early 2-0 advantage after scoring runs in both the first and second innings for the third straight game in the series. In the top of the first, Vic Buttler clubbed a solo home run -- his second of the season -- to open the scoring. In the next frame, Jason Bowers drove in Dave Parrish with an RBI single to make it a 2-0 game.
Bowers led all Curve hitters with three hits in the contest. Delaney and Parrish each added a pair of hits in the win.
Altoona will look for a series sweep in Sunday's finale of the four-game set against Akron. Right-hander Jason Roach (4-2, 4.20) will make a fill-in start for Luis Munoz, who was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis prior to Saturday's game. The Aeros are scheduled to send Cleveland Indians' left-hander Aaron Fultz to the mound for a Major League rehab assignment. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
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