Walker homers in debut, but Curve fall to Defenders
Published on August 15, 2006 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA-Top Pirates' prospect Neil Walker homered in his Double-A debut, but his eighth-inning longball accounted for the Curve's only run in a 2-1 loss to the Connecticut Defenders Tuesday night at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT.
Walker was joined by another of Pittsburgh's top young minor league prospects, outfielder Andrew McCutchen, in being added to the Curve roster prior to Tuesday's game. The 20-year old switch-hitting catcher was the Pirates' first round selection in the 2004 draft, while McCutchen was the Bucs' top choice in the 2005 draft.
Walker finished the night 1-for-4 with his solo homer, while McCutchen, who became the youngest player in Curve history at 19 years and 10 months, also went 1-for-4 as the starting center fielder.
With the Curve trailing 2-0 into the eighth inning, Walker drilled a fastball from reliever Jeff Petersen deep over the right-field wall to cut the Connecticut lead in half. However, Petersen and closer Billy Sadler retired the final five Altoona hitters in order to clinch the Defenders' first victory of the series after the Curve swept both ends of a doubleheader Monday night.
Connecticut starter Jesse Floyd (3-12) outdueled Curve hurler Wardell Starling by working six scoreless innings to earn his third win of the season. Starling (4-3) went eight innings, allowing just two runs-one earned-on six hits in receiving a complete-game loss.
The Curve and Defenders will conclude their four-game series Wednesday night at 7:05 PM. Jason Roach (6-4, 3.20) will get the starting assignment for Altoona against Connecticut right-hander Chris Begg (11-10, 3.68).
Eastern League Stories from August 15, 2006
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- Schierholtz homer powers Defenders - Connecticut Defenders
- Walker homers in debut, but Curve fall to Defenders - Altoona Curve
- Lambin homers twice, but B-Mets lose - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Pirates' Top Prospects Walker, McCutchen Join Curve - Altoona Curve
- Barry Hertzler rejoins Sea Dogs - Portland Sea Dogs
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