Akron Aeros Slip Past the Altoona Curve in Rain-Soaked Game, 3-2

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – AKRON, OH- Wes Hodges knocked in all three Akron runs and starter David Huff tossed seven strong innings to lead the Aeros to a 3-2 win over the Altoona Curve on a rainy Wednesday evening at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio.  While the game was not delayed by rain, the contest was plagued by a steady rainfall throughout the night.

Akron (14-18) has now taken two of the first three games in the four-game set with the Curve (13-19), who dropped back into last place in the Eastern League's Southern Division with the loss.

Hodges broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning, when he knocked in a pair of runs with a base hit against Altoona starter Corey Hamman.  The Cleveland Indians' top third base prospect later helped the Aeros add a third run with an RBI single in the seventh. 

Meanwhile, Huff (2-1) was terrific in earning his second win of the season.  The left-hander, who was a supplement first round selection of the Indians in the 2006 MLB Draft, scattered four hits and struck out eight Curve hitters.  Huff retired 15 consecutive Altoona batters from the second to seventh innings. 

Hamman (0-5) was saddled with his fifth consecutive loss after giving up two runs over 4 1/3 innings.  The left-hander allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five.  Reliever Christian Castorri was charged with one run in two innings of relief, while Kevin Roberts bounced back after suffering the loss in Monday's series opener to work 1 2/3 scoreless.

Offensively, Jason Delaney and James Boone knocked in Altoona's only runs.  Delaney's seventh inning RBI single brought the Curve to within 2-1, while Boone's run-scoring hit in the eighth closed the Curve deficit to 3-2.  Delaney's 2-for-4 night extended his current on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. 

The Curve's other three hits -- all doubles -- were recorded by Luis Cruz, Brian Finegan and Jonel Pacheco.

The Curve and Aeros will conclude their series Thursday morning at 10:35 a.m.  Altoona is scheduled to send right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier (2-0, 5.83) to the mound for his seventh start of the season, while Akron is expected to counter with righty Frank Herrmann (3-2, 4.28). Radio airtime will be 10:20 a.m. on flagship radio station Real Oldies 93.5 FM and the Curve Radio Network.

The Curve will return to Blair County Ballpark next Tuesday for a brief three-day homestand against the Akron Aeros.

Box Score: http://altoonacurve.com/meetteam/stats/index.html?autoload=boxscore&gid=2008_05_07_altaax_akraax_1&sportcode=aax

Play-by-Play: http://altoonacurve.com/meetteam/stats/index.html?autoload=gamelog&gid=2008_05_07_altaax_akraax_1&sportcode=aax

Game Notes: http://www.altoonacurve.com/news/gamenote/

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