EL1 Altoona Curve

R-Phills Sweep Doubleheader

Published on August 1, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ALTOONA- Game One: The Curve erased a three-run deficit in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader, but ultimately fell to the Reading Phillies, 4-3.

After the Curve had scored three times to climb out of 3-0 hole in the bottom of the fourth inning, the R-Phils collected the game-winner in the fifth. With one out in the inning, Curve starter Yoslan Herrera conceded three consecutive singles to Greg Golson, Mike Costanzo and Jason Hill. Hill's single, which plated Golson, was a low line-drive back to the mound that could have easily turned into a double play to end the inning. Instead, the ball deflected off the heel of Herrera's mitt and bounced away for the game-winning hit.

R-Phils starter Patrick Overholt (4-5) earned the win working five innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. Overholt did walk five in that span.

All three of those runs scored in the fourth. With the Curve trailing 3-0, Andrew McCutchen led off and drew a walk. Brian Peterson struck out behind him, but the third strike was a wild pitch which went to the backstop and allowed Peterson to scamper all the way to second base while McCutchen took third. Peter Bergeron followed with an sacrifice fly to score McCutchen and Brandon Chaves singled home Peterson. Chaves scored to tie the game two batters later on a Vic Buttler RBI single.

Reading had taken the lead early via the long ball. Golson hit a solo shot off of Herrera in the second and Hector Made homered with Peeter Ramos aboard in the fourth.

Herrera (6-6) was tagged with the loss, ending a string of five straight wins for the right-hander. Chris Key worked a scoreless seventh inning to earn his 15 save of the season.

Game Two: Following the same script as game one, the Curve fell behind early and came up just short in losing game two, 3-2, to Reading.

Javier Guzman's error on a Michael Spidale ground ball to start the ballgame opened the door for a two-run Reading first inning. With Spidale aboard and one out, Mike Costanzo singled. Curve starter Kyle Bloom walked Jason Hill to load the bases and hit Shaun Boyd to bring home Spidale with the game's first run. The second scored on a Peeter Ramos sacrifice fly and the R-Phils led 2-0 on the strength of two unearned runs.

Boyd clubbed a solo home run in the third inning to stretch the R-Phils lead to 3-0.

Again the Curve would attempt a comeback. They got their first run off of R-Phils starter Chris Rojas in the fifth. With two outs in the inning, Jason Bowers doubled to the left field corner. He scored as Taber Lee followed with a double to the right field corner to cut the lead to 3-1.

Andrew McCutchen made it a one-run game with a solo home run off of reliever Julio De La Cruz in the sixth inning, but that was as close as the Curve got.

Chris Key returned after saving game one, to close game two with a scoreless seventh inning. Key earned his 16th save of the season.

Rojas (6-3) earned the win by throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits.

Bloom (0-1) took the loss in his double-A debut, despite allowing just one earned run on two hits and striking out six in five innings.

The series finale is scheduled for Thursday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Kip Bouknight (9-3, 3.83) will make the start for the Curve against RHP Gary Knotts (0-0, 0.00) for the R-Phils.

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Eastern League Stories from August 1, 2007


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