EL1 Altoona Curve

Van Benschoten earns win in rehab start, Curve sweep doubleheader from Connecticut

Published on August 14, 2006 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


YANTIC, CT After the Curve offense stammered to a 4-2 win in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Connecticut Defenders at Dodd Stadium on Monday night, Altoona's bats came alive to complete the sweep with a 6-2 win in the nightcap. Simon Pond (pictured) came up big for the Curve in both games finishing the night a combined 3-for-6 with five RBI.

Nyjer Morgan led the Curve attack in Game 2, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Ray Sadler was also 3-for-3 with a run scored and Vic Buttler and Brian Bixler eached chipped in two-hit efforts.

The Curve banged out 14 total hits in the second game after mustering only three hits in Game 1.

Altoona jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second game, but had to respond late after the Defenders cut the Curve advantage to just one run. Led by back-to-back doubles by Buttler and Pond, Altoona tallied two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the second game of the double-dip out of reach.

It was déjà vu for Connecticut in the bottom of the seventh as Blaine Neal came on to pitch a scoreless frame to earn his second save of the night. Neal ended the evening with two innings pitched, no runs allowed, three hits, three strikeouts and two saves.

Nerio Rodriguez made his first start in a Curve uniform after being added to the roster early on Monday, and pitched effectively. The right-hander had five strikeouts in four innings while allowing two runs on four hits.

Matt Peterson came out of the bullpen to pitch the fifth and sixth frames before turning the ball over to Neal. Peterson earned his sixth win of the year, despite allowing a run for the first time since being converted to a reliever nearly a month ago.

The Curve used a four-run fifth inning to take the first game of the doubleheader, 4-2. Connecticut scored twice in their first at-bat, but Pond's bases-clearing triple in the fifth inning put the Curve in front for good, and Blaine Neal nailed down his first save of the season, pitching a scoreless seventh.

Pirates' right-hander John Van Benschoten earned the victory, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings. The 2003 first-round pick joined the Curve as part of his rehabilitation from shoulder injuries, and struck out three batters in picking up the win.

The Curve won the game despite earning just three hits. Pond had two of them, including the game-winning three-bagger in the fifth that scored Morgan, Buttler and Javier Guzman.

The Curve and Defenders will continue their series on Tuesday night at Dodd Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Wardell Starling will start for Altoona against Connecticut's Jesse Floyd.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from August 14, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central