Walker's Two Homers Help Curve End 10-Game Slide
Published on May 27, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
BOWIE, MD- Third baseman Neil Walker became the first Curve player this season to hit two home runs in a game and Brandon Chaves knocked in the game's winning run on fielder's choice in the top of the 10th inning as Altoona halted the second-longest losing streak in franchise history with a 7-6 win over the Bowie Baysox Sunday afternoon at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie.
The win ended the Curve's 10-game losing streak, which was just one loss shy of matching the longest skid in club history. Prior to Sunday's win over Bowie, Altoona (20-26) had not won since the first game of their May 17th doubleheader against Portland at Blair County Ballpark.
Walker homered in both the third and seventh innings to give the Curve a two-run advantage in each frame. In the third, with the game tied at 2-2, he drilled a fastball from Bowie starter Radhames Liz over the right-center field fence, then, in the seventh touched up reliever Felix Romero for a longball to straightaway center. The two home runs were Walker's seventh and eighth of the season, moving him past teammate Randy Ruiz for the team lead in that category.
The second of Walker's two homers gave Altoona a 6-4 lead, which it carried into the bottom of the eighth inning. But, in the eighth, the Baysox cut the Curve lead in half on an RBI single by Val Majewski, which scored pinch-runner Travis Brown. The run was charged to Curve reliever Mike Nannini, but Matt Peterson stranded the tying run at third base to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Peterson, who had converted each of his first seven save opportunities, retired the first two men he faced to bring the Curve within one out of victory. However, Peterson walked Ruddy Yan and gave up a game-tying double to Paco Figueroa, which sent the game to extra innings. Peterson was charged with his first blown save of the season.
But the Curve wouldn't be denied victory as Adam Boeve led off the top of the tenth with a double and later scored on Chaves' fielder's choice grounder to first. On the play, Baysox' first baseman Brandon Sing threw to the plate, but his throw pulled catcher Eli Whiteside away from the plate, allowing Boeve to score the eventual winning run.
Rommie Lewis (1-2) allowed the winning run and was tagged with the loss.
Romulo Sanchez held the Baysox off the board in the bottom of the tenth inning to earn his first save of the season. Peterson (2-0) was credited with the victory.
Yoslan Herrera made his ninth start for the Curve and pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits to pick up a no-decision. Luis Munoz, who was bounced from Friday's game after retiring only two batters in a seven-run Bowie first inning, returned to the mound to aid a tired Curve bullpen and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Offensively, in addition to Walker's big day, Andrew McCutchen continued to climb out of his season-long slump at the plate, collecting three hits in five at-bats on the afternoon. The Pirates' top prospect is hitting .359 (14-for-39) over his last nine games. Boeve and Alex Fernandez each added two hits.
The Curve will look for back-to-back wins as they take on Bowie Monday afternoon in the finale of the four-game Memorial Day weekend series at Prince George's Stadium. Curve righty Kip Bouknight (4-2, 3.78) will take the mound against Bowie left-hander Oscar Alvarez (6-1, 3.38) in the 2:05 PM contest.
Eastern League Stories from May 27, 2007
- Fisher Cats Blank B-Mets, End Win Streak - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- YATES WINS ANOTHER AS FISHER CATS BLANK METS 4-0 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Connecticut Spilts Doubleheader - Connecticut Defenders
- Walker's Two Homers Help Curve End 10-Game Slide - Altoona Curve
- Baysox Lose To Curve In Extras - Chesapeake Baysox
- Thunder Get Ninth Shutout In DH Split With Connecticut - Trenton Thunder
- Trevor Crowe Drives In Three - Akron RubberDucks
- Dogs Rally For Fourth Straight Win - Portland Sea Dogs
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