Altoona Curve Score Late, Snatch 3-2 Victory from Akron Aeros - Eastern League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – ALTOONA - The Curve bats woke up late in Monday night's game for their third come-from-behind victory of the season, grabbing a 3-2 victory over the Akron Aeros at Blair County Ballpark.  

Entering the seventh inning, the Curve had accumulated just one hit on a home run by James Boone which led off the bottom of the first inning.  The long ball was Boone's Eastern League-leading sixth of the season.  Earlier in the day, the switch-hitting outfielder was named Eastern League Player of the Week after hitting .524 (11-for-21) with four homers, six RBI and eight runs scored the previous week.  

Akron starter David Huff silenced the Curve bats after allowing Boone's long ball, pitching 6 2/3 innings, striking out six batters and walking two.  Huff had retired nine consecutive batters before he reached his pitch count limit and was lifted in favor of reliever Jeff Stevens (2-1) in the seventh.  Stevens was promptly greeted by Brian Finegan, who corked a solo home run to left field to knot the game, 2-2. 

Altoona set up shop in the bottom of the eighth after Boone led off the frame with a walk.  On a perfectly executed hit and run, Jonel Pacheco poked a ball through the right side of the infield that put runners at the corner to set the table for Brad Corley.  Corley hit a ground ball to shortstop, but in a failed attempt to turn the double play, and only getting lead runner Pacheco, Corley's ability to beat the relay throw and Pacheco's clean, hard slide into second base, proved to be pivotal.  The sequence allowed Boone to cross the plate with the decisive run.

Brian Rogers (2-0) faced the minimum over two innings of scoreless relief, striking out two batters, including Ryan Goleski to end the game.  Rogers has now tossed 12 consecutive scoreless innings of relief, and has not allowed a run since his first appearance of the year on April 3 against Reading. 

The Curve (8-9) will return to action Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. for the second game of a three-game set against the Aeros (6-10).  Altoona will send right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier (1-0, 7.07) to the mound, while Akron will start righty Frank Herrmann (2-0, 4.32). 

Tuesday is Dollar Day at Blair County Ballpark, as all Grandstand (300 Level) and UMPC Health Plan Home Run Junction (Outfield Bleacher) tickets cost just $1.  Also, the first 2,000 fans through the gates receive a Recycling Bag courtesy of Lakemont Park.  Great seats for the contest are still available and can be obtained by calling 877-99-CURVE, by logging on to AltoonaCurve.com, or in person at the Blair County Ballpark Box Office.

NOTES - Starting pitcher Derek Hankins was struck in the chest with a line drive in fifth inning and had to leave the game.  Before leaving, he had pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on three hits... With his home run in the bottom of the first, James Boone has now homered six times in eight games.  He also extended his hitting streak to six games and has reached base safely in 16 of 17 contests this season... Brad Corley's six-game hitting streak was thwarted with an 0-for-4 performance.

Box Score: http://altoonacurve.com/meetteam/stats/index.html?autoload=boxscore&gid=2008_04_21_akraax_altaax_1&sportcode=aax

Play-by-Play: http://altoonacurve.com/meetteam/stats/index.html?autoload=gamelog&gid=2008_04_21_akraax_altaax_1&sportcode=aax
 

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