EL1 Altoona Curve

Thunder Walk Off With Win On Saturday Night

Published on July 2, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


TRENTON, N.J. - Corban Joseph hit a walk-off fielder's choice to score Damon Sublett in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Thunder steal a, 4-3, win over Altoona on Saturday night at Waterfront Park. Altoona carried a 3-2 lead in to the ninth inning after scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth in front of the second-largest crowd in Thunder franchise history.

Rob Lyerly led off the ninth against Curve reliever Aaron Thompson (3-7) with a ball that was just out of the reach of third baseman Greg Picart as it went into left field. Lyerly ended up at second base and Trenton had the tying run in scoring position. Damon Sublett followed Lyerly's double with a triple as the ball carried on right fielder Andrew Lambo and bounced off the base of the wall. Lyerly scored from second and Trenton had the winning run at third with no one out.

Thompson nearly escaped the inning as he struck out Ray Kruml for the inning's first out. He then intentionally walked Jose Pirela to place runners at the corners and set up a potential inning-ending double play. He got the ground ball he wanted off the bat of Joseph but it was hit too slowly to turn two and the winning run scored.

The go-ahead eighth inning began for Altoona when Josh Rodriguez singled off switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (2-3) to open the frame. After Lambo popped out, Tony Sanchez battled Venditte to eventually single into right center and move Rodriguez to third with less than two outs. Matt Curry, who entered the at bat 2-for-3 in the game, delivered with a sac fly to deep right-center that scored Rodriguez and put the Curve in front, 3-2.

Altoona plated its first runs in the game in the seventh inning off reliever Cory Arbiso as Picart and Brock Holt each drove in runs to tie the game. The Curve had no answer early for starter Craig Heyer, who went five scoreless innings while giving up just three hits.

Curve starter Mike Colla was brilliant again, allowing two early runs but then settling in to finish six innings while striking out five. It is Colla's third quality start in a row.

Rehabbing New York Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter finished the game 1-for-2 with a walk and left as scheduled in the fifth inning. He will once again play on Sunday night to complete his rehab assignment.

Curry finished the game 2-for-3 and has multi-hit games in each of the three game this series. This season at Waterfront Park, Curry is 12-for-23 in six games.

Altoona (35-45) and Trenton (48-33) will wrap up the four-game series beginning at 7:05 p.m. Sunday night from Waterfront Park. RHP Kyle McPherson (1-2, 3.32) makes the start for Altoona and will try to lead them to a series split. LHP Manny Banuelos (3-1, 3.38) gets the starting nod for the Thunder.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from July 2, 2011


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