Sea Dogs slam Curve in series opener
June 6, 2006 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
PORTLAND, ME- Ray Sadler belted a second-inning grand slam to give Altoona an early five-run lead, but the Portland Sea Dogs used a seven-run fourth inning to roar back and claim a series-opening 13-8 victory over the Curve Tuesday night at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine.
Sadler's slam--the Curve's third of the season--came after Dave Parrish opened the frame with a solo shot and gave Altoona an early 6-1 lead. After Portland answered with two runs in the bottom of the second, Rafael Alvarez restored the Curve's five-run lead in the fourth with a two-run homer to make it an 8-3 game.
However, the Curve lead would disappear in the bottom of the frame with starter Matt Peterson on the mound. The right-hander, who had a 7.68 ERA over his previous eight starts, allowed a lead-off homer to Jeremy West, which opened the flood gates for the Sea Dogs. Portland would add three more runs against Peterson before Luis Jimenez touched up reliever Jonathan Albaladejo for a three-run home run to give the 'Dogs a 10-8 lead.
Albaladejo (1-2) was tagged with the loss after being on the mound when the Sea Dogs grabbed the lead for good in the fourth. Peterson was charged with seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings to raise his season ERA to 6.57.
Portland added one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh against reliever Blaine Neal to provide added insurance in their sixth consecutive victory.
Jon Searles (3-1), a former Pirates' farmhand, earned the win in relief for Portland despite allowing two runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work.
Parrish led the Curve's 11-hit effort by going 4-for-5, while Sadler, Alvarez and Vic Buttler each added two hits in the loss.
Altoona (34-24), which was opening a seven-game road trip, lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell to 4-11 in its last 15 contests away from Blair County Ballpark. Portland improved to 33-22 with the win and maintained at least a five-game lead in the E.L. North.
The Curve and Sea Dogs will play the middle game of their three-game series Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. Altoona will send right-hander Matt Lorenzo to the mound for his first start of the season. Portland will counter with left-hander Kason Gabbard (6-2, 3.35). First pitch is set for 6:00 PM.
GAME NOTES: Prior to the game, pitcher Chris Rojas was placed on the Disabled List with a shoulder injury. The right-hander left his start in game two of Saturday's doubleheader against New Hampshire in the fourth inning. The extent of his injury is not known ... Matt Lorenzo, who will make his Curve debut as a starter Wednesday night, was added to the roster to replace Rojas. The 23-year old was signed as a minor league free agent last month after being released by the Atlanta Braves in spring training. He was a fifth round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 2003 out of Kent State and went to Atlanta in a trade for RHP Kevin Grybowski last July ... Vic Buttler went 2-for-5 in Tuesday's contest and has now hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games, hitting .356 (31-for-87) during that span
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