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EL1 Altoona Curve

Locke, Curve Keep on Rolling with Win Over 'Wolves

August 23, 2010 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - A four-run first inning helped catapult the Curve to a, 5-1, win over the Erie SeaWolves in the first game of a three-game series on Monday night at Blair County Ballpark. Starting pitcher Jeff Locke (3-1) earned his third Double-A win with 5.2 innings of one-run baseball and Daniel Moskos notched his 20th save of the year with the final out in the ninth.

With the win, Altoona has reached the 75-win plateau for the first time since the 2006 season.

The first six Curve batters in the bottom of the first reached against SeaWolves' starter Brooks Brown (11-9). Chase d'Arnaud walked and then moved to third on a Josh Harrison single. After Harrison stole second, Andrew Lambo singled into center to score both runners and put Altoona on top, 2-0.

Matt Hague followed with a double to move Lambo to third for Jordy Mercer, who singled into right-center to bring in a pair and run the score to, 4-0. Hector Gimenez walked to continue the inning but Brown finally settled in and got Miles Durham to fly out and Jim Negrych to ground into a double play.

In the second, Anthony Norman came around to score on a ball that SeaWolves' shortstop Brandon Douglas could not handle off the bat of Harrison to make it, 5-0, Curve.

It would be more than enough for Locke, who did not allow a run until the sixth inning. He retired the first two men he faced in the frame but then Bryan Pounds tripled into right-center field and it would mark the end of the night for Locke. Tom Boleska came in from the bullpen and allowed Pounds to score on a RBI double by John Murrian but that would be the only run that Erie plated in the game.

Locke finished 5.2 innings and allowed the one run on five hits while striking out seven. It was the first run that Locke had permitted since the first inning of his start against Trenton on August 12, a span of 17.2 innings.

D'Arnaud finished the game 1-for-3 but he did successfully steal his 30th base of the 2010 season and became the first Curve player since 2005 to steal at least 30 bases. Rajai Davis and Rich Thompson each stole 45 bags for the '05 Curve. It is the sixth time in franchise history that a Curve player has stolen at least 30 bases in one season.

Moskos' 20th save of the season marked the first time since 2007 that the Curve had a player save at least 20 games. Matt Peterson saved a franchise-best 29 games for the '07 Curve.

Winners of four straight and six of its last seven, Altoona (75-52) will host Erie (58-70) in the second game of the three-game set at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at BCB. RHP Jared Hughes (12-7, 4.34) returns to the starting rotation and will get the nod for Altoona while LHP Duane Below (5-12, 5.12) throws for Erie.

It's the final Two-for-Tuesday of the year presented by Atlantic Broadband and KRAFT Singles on Tuesday night. Fans can receive two-for-one offers on tickets, hot dogs and small popcorns during Tuesday night's game.

Airtime on flagship ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and Curve Radio Network affiliates is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Great seats are still available for Tuesday night's game with Erie by calling 877.99.CURVE, visiting www.AltoonaCurve.com or by stopping in to the box office at BCB.

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