EL1 Altoona Curve

Opening Day Doubleheader Goes to Erie on Saturday Night

Published on April 5, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - The Curve had to wait two days to play their home opener of the 2014 season and when the skies finally cleared, Erie spoiled the first two games of the season by defeating the Curve, 2-0, and 5-2.

In game one, Curve starter Adrian Sampson (0-1) pitched well in his Double-A debut as he turned in a quality start with six innings of two-run ball while striking out six. Altoona's offense wasn't able to get much going against Warwick Saupold (1-0), however, and couldn't crack the scoreboard.

Altoona had its best chance to score in the fifth and sixth innings when they put two on with one out but neither scoring opportunity came to fruition.

Catcher Elias Diaz was perfect at the plate in his Double-A debut in game one, going 3-for-3 with three singles.

In the second game, Erie jumped out to an early lead thanks to the first of two homers off the bat of shortstop Eugenio Suarez. After Erie added another run in the fourth, the Curve finally cracked the scoreboard with a pair of runs to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

With two outs in the frame, Mel Rojas, Jr. worked a walk and Drew Maggi singled to move Rojas to third and place runners at the corners. Andy Vasquez followed and stroked a single into left-center field that plated Rojas and cut the deficit to one. Kelson Brown stood at the plate as the Curve performed a double steal to score their second run and tie the game. Vasquez broke for second and when the throw came down Maggi sprinted for home and slid in ahead of an errant throw.

That was as close as the Curve came on Saturday as Suarez burned the Curve for a two-run homer (his second homer of the game) in the next half inning.

Maggi finished the second game 2-for-2 while Ryan Beckman was the only Curve pitcher to throw a clean game in the night cap.

Altoona (0-2) and Erie (2-0) will play the final game of this shortened series at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. RHP Nick Kingham, who was scheduled to start the opener on both Thursday and Friday, will now pitch in the series finale for the Curve. Erie sends LHP Kyle Ryan to the bump in the series finale under the sun.

The Curve expect to welcome their 5 millionth fan at Sunday afternoon's contest with Erie. That lucky fan will be awarded a special 5 millionth fan prize pack that will include a trip for two with the Altoona Curve Booster Club to Pirates' Spring Training in 2015, Altoona Curve season tickets for life, a team jersey with their name on the back, an honorary captainship on the Alumni team during the Curve, Pa. Heroes Game as part of the E.L. All-Star Stop presented by UPMC Health Plan and a Five Millionth Fan parking space in the VIP parking lot at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Tomorrow also brings the first Youth Baseball Clinic of the 2014 season, which is free to attend with the purchase of a ticket to Sunday afternoon's game. The clinic is taught by Curve players and runs from 10 a.m. to noon with registration beginning at 9 a.m. After the game with Erie, kids can run the bases.

A makeup date for the rainout on Thursday night has also been announced. Altoona and Erie will play a doubleheader on Tuesday, July 8 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

For tickets and more information on the current Curve homestand, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 5, 2014


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