Three-run first holds up as Curve win third straight
Published on July 26, 2005 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
Bonifay Becomes Sixth Different Playing in Curve History to Hit 20 Homers
ALTOONA-- Josh Bonifay belted a two-run homer to cap a three-run first inning as the Altoona Curve won their third straight game with a 4-1 win over the Binghamton Mets Tuesday night at Blair County Ballpark.
After dropping to the .500 mark after a loss to Harrisburg on Saturday night, the Curve (52-49) have won three straight and moved to within 3 1/2 games of first-place Akron, who their game postponed due to rain. Altoona also remained 1 1/2 games behind second-place Erie, who won at Trenton.
Bonifay's two-run shot in the first marked his 20th longball of the season, making the first baseman just the sixth different player in Curve history to belt 20 or more homers in a single season. He finished the game 3-for-4 to improve to 11-for-20 during the first five games of the Curve homestand.
Craig Stansberry got the Curve offense going in the first with a one-out triple and scored on an RBI single by Jose Bautista.
Meanwhile, Curve starter Eddie Candelario (3-2) turned in another solid performance, holding Binghamton to just one run on five hits over six innings to earn the victory. The right-hander, who joined the Curve rotation on June 28th, has now worked at least six innings in each of his last five outings.
Ben Shaffar continued his evolution into the Curve's closer role, entering a 3-1 game in the top of the eighth inning to strike out pinch-hitter Brett Harper on just three pitches before holding the B-Mets off the board in the top of the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season.
The Curve added a big insurance run in the bottom of the eight on a solo home run by Carlos Maldonado--his fifth of the season.
Binghamton starter Ken Chenard (7-8) was saddled with the loss for the B-Mets after allowing three runs on six hits in five innings of work.
The Mets (44-54) tallied their lone run of the game against Candelario in the sixth inning with a two-out RBI double off the bat of Mike Jacobs.
Altoona will look for their fourth consecutive victory Wednesday night against Binghamton at 7:05 PM. The pitching matchup will feature Curve right-hander Matt Peterson (8-6, 6.11) against Mets' righty Yusmeiro Petit (5-2, 2.83).
Eastern League Stories from July 26, 2005
- Three-run first holds up as Curve win third straight - Altoona Curve
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- Altoona's three-run first dooms B-Mets - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
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- Curve's annual Bark in the Park set for tonight - Altoona Curve
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