Watson Leads Curve To Win Over Richmond
Published on August 27, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Tony Watson (6-2) tied career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts as he led the Altoona Curve past the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 5-0, at Blair County Ballpark on Friday night. Watson went a season-high seven innings and struck out a season-high nine batters in the win, both tying career highs. Altoona's magic number to clinch the division now sits at five games.
The offense gave Watson his first run of support in the second when Jim Negrych came around on a two-out triple off the bat of Miles Durham. After two innings, the Curve led, 1-0.
Josh Harrison tripled to lead off the third inning and it would be the first of three extra-base hits in the inning for the Curve. Harrison came home two batters later on a wild pitch by Richmond starter Felix Romero (4-3). Hector Gimenez, who was at the plate when Harrison scored on the wild pitch, doubled with one down. Negrych came to the plate two batters later and brought him home and put the Curve up, 3-0.
It would be plenty for Watson, who after allowing a leadoff single to Thomas Neal in the fourth inning did not allow another Richmond runner to reach. He retired the last 12 men he faced in the game and notched his career-high tying strikeout by fanning the final batter he faced to end the seventh.
In his last two outings, Watson has gone a combined 13 innings and struck out 17 batters. He has not allowed a run over that same time span while permitting six total hits.
Tom Boleska pitched the final two innings for his third save of the year. He and Watson combined to retire 17 in a row before Thomas Neal singled with two away in the ninth.
Matt Hague extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games by going 2-for-4 in the game. He drove in a run in Altoona's two-run eighth off reliever Mitch Lively and now has 78 RBI in 2010. The 78 RBI in a single season moves him into a tie for the fifth highest RBI total in franchise history.
With the win, Altoona has now won 78 games to move into a tie with the 2003 Curve, who finished the year 78-63, for the second most regular season wins in franchise history. The '04 Curve won a franchise-best 85 games.
The Curve (78-54) will look to secure a series win over the Squirrels (63-68) at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at Blair County Ballpark. LHP Jeff Locke (3-1, 2.89), who's won two straight starts, throws for Altoona while the Squirrels counter with RHP Mike MacDonald (4-8, 4.21).
Everyone's favorite travelling mascot group The Zooperstars will be on hand during Saturday night's game in Curve, Pa. Kids can also run the bases after the game.
Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on flagship ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network. Great seats for the final two games of the homestand are still available by calling 877.99.CURVE, visiting www.AltoonaCurve.com or by stopping in to the box office at BCB.
Eastern League Stories from August 27, 2010
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