EL1 Altoona Curve

Senators Double Up Curve In Opener, 8-4

Published on June 17, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - The first-place Harrisburg Senators halted Altoona's modest two-game win streak on Friday night as they doubled up the Curve, 8-4, in the first game of a four-game series at Blair County Ballpark. Shortstop Jordy Mercer went 2-for-4 in the game while slugging his team-best 12th home run of the season and driving in a pair of runs in the loss.

Harrisburg wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard against starter Aaron Pribanic (5-4) as they plated a run in the first half-inning of play. After Pribanic retired the first batter of the game he gave up three straight singles to load the bases with one down. Senators' catcher Derek Norris worked a full count and an eventual bases-loaded walk from Pribanic and Harrisburg took the lead, 1-0.

Altoona seemed primed to answer in the bottom of the inning when Starling Marte and Brock Holt singled back-to-back to start the inning. Things went south from there though as opposing starter Erik Davis (3-2) settled in and retired Altoona's 3-4-5 hitters to end the inning and the threat.

Neither team would score in the second but the Senators did saddle four runs on Pribanic in the third to open up a 5-0 advantage. Mercer answered with a home run in the last of the third to plate Altoona's first run of the game and Altoona was within four.

The ‘Sens would get two more runs in the fourth off Pribanic before he was ejected from the game by crew chief Travis Hatch in the fifth. All told, Pribanic tied a career high with seven runs allowed and issued a career-high 14 hits in 4.2 innings of work.

The Curve pulled as close as they would come in the bottom of the fifth when they scored three runs to pull within three at, 7-4. Mercer drove in his second run of the game and the first of the fifth for Altoona when he doubled in Marte. Holt was at third base during Matt Curry's at bat when Davis threw a wild pitch that allowed him to score. With Mercer at third, Jeremy Farrell singled back into centerfield and Altoona was within three.

It would be the last runs of the game for Altoona as Senators pitching would not allow a run over their final four innings. Harrisburg added one final run off the Curve bullpen and Tim Alderson in the seventh when Bill Rhinehart hit a sac fly that scored Chris Rahl. Alderson, Mike Crotta and Noah Krol combined for 4.1 innings of one-run, one-hit relief but it wasn't enough as the Curve offense went silent.

Farrell, Holt, Mercer and Marte all had two hits apiece in the loss for the Curve.

Once again at the .500 mark, Altoona (33-33) will take on Harrisburg (37-28) for two seven-inning games beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night in Curve, Pa. The first of two Father's Day Weekend giveaways will take place on Saturday night as we'll give away three flat-screen TVs (one each to three lucky dads in attendance) on Saturday night thanks to Your Building Centers. Saturday will also mark the first Scout Night Sleepover of the season and it will also be EMS Appreciation Night at the ballpark. Kids will have an opportunity to run the bases after the second game as well.

Altoona will send LHP Jeff Locke (5-5, 4.46) to the hill in the first game on Saturday night while the Senators counter with RHP Brad Peacock (7-2, 2.33). In the second seven-inning game, Harrisburg will toss recently activated Erik Arnesen (3-0, 2.78) while Altoona has yet to officially announce a starter.

Gates for Saturday night's games will open at 4:30 p.m. and air time on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 17, 2011


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