Rock Cats shock Curve with late rally
Published on June 24, 2005 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA-- The New Britain Rock Cats rallied to score three runs over the final two innings, including a pair in the top of the ninth against Curve closer Justin Kaye, to earn a 4-3 win over Altoona Friday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The Curve lost for the first time this season when leading entering the ninth innings and missed out on an opportunity to claim sole possession of first place in the Eastern League's Southern Division after Akron lost its seventh consecutive game Friday night at Harrisburg. Altoona and Akron entered Friday with identical 40-32 records.
Altoona had built a 3-1 lead on a two-run double by Carlos Maldonado in the fourth and a seventh-inning solo homer by Rajai Davis, but New Britain chipped into the Curve advantage in the eighth with a run against reliever Josh Sharpless before facing Kaye in the ninth.
After striking out the leadoff hitter, Kaye walked the next two Rock Cats' batters on eight straight balls before giving up a game-tying single to Tommy Watkins and the go-ahead double to Felix Molina. Kaye (1-1) was charged with his second blown save of the week after going 19-for-19 in save opportunities entering the week.
Pat Neshek (3-2) worked two scoreless frames to earn the win for New Britain, who had entered the game with the worst record in the Eastern League.
The late rally by the Rock Cats stripped Curve starter Paul Maholm of a victory on a night when he turned in one of his best performances of the season. The Pirates' 2003 first round pick allowed just one run--a second-inning homer by Danny Matienzo--and three hits over seven innings and struck out seven batters in taking a no-decision.
New Britain starter Glen Perkins also turned in a solid start in his first Double-A start after being promoted from Single-A on Wednesday. The left-hander, who was a first pick of the Twins in 2004, allowed just two runs in six hits over six innings of work.
The Curve recorded eight hits in the game, but two players--Davis and Craig Stansberry--accounted for six of the hits with three apiece.
Altoona and New Britain will play the middle game of their three-game set Saturday night at Blair County Ballpark beginning at 7:05 PM. In a matchup of righties, Paul Stewart (4-6, 4.15) will face Levale Speigner (1-6, 3.92).
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