MVN - Most Valuable Network

Curve Win Rain-Shortened Series

Friday:
Erie SeaWolves 13, Altoona Curve 4
boxscore

The Curve pounded out 13 hits, but could only get 4 of their base runners across the plate in this loss. CF James Boone and 2B Melvin Dorta led the hitting attack. Boone hit a solo homer in the 3rd inning, which made the traditional exit from the ball park over the right field wall. He also hit an inside-the-park homer, also a solo, in the 5th inning. The ball caromed off of the center field wall and into right field, and Boone was able to scramble around the bases before the Erie outfielders could get to it. It was Boone’s 4th homer in 6 games, and also the 4th inside-the-park home run in Curve history. (Trivia Question: who had two of the other three inside-the-park homers for the Curve? Answer below)

Melvin Dorta went 5-for-5 for the Curve, including two doubles. Brian Finegan also homered, a solo homer in the 7th. The Curve scored their final run of the game in the 7th inning after Finegan’s homer. James Boone singled, moved to second base on one of Dorta’s doubles, and scored on LF Jonel Pacheco sacrifice fly.

The SeaWolves took advantage of the Curve pitchers, scoring at least one run in every odd-numbered inning in the game. Starter Corey Hamman suffered the loss, lasting only 2.2 innings and allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits with one strikeout. Derek Antelo pitched 3.1 innings, and he gave up 3 runs on 2 hits plus 3 walks. Dave Davidson added 2 innings, but gave up 4 runs on 4 hits, also with 3 walks. Kyle Bloom pitched the final inning, allowing 2 back-to-back solo homers to lead off the inning.

Saturday:
Curve 3, Erie SeaWolves 2
boxscore

Erie jumped out to an early lead, putting up one run in the first inning, when CF Freddy Guzman singled, stole second base, advanced to third base on a bunt, and scored on a ground out. Guzman provided a second run in the 3rd inning, when he led off with his 4th triple of the season, and scored on another ground out. That was all the scoring that starter Josh Hill would allow, as he pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 4 Erie batters. Reliever Chris Hernandez held Erie scoreless over his 3.1 innings, and allowed them only 1 hit, while striking out 2.

Erie starter Daniel Christensen kept the Curve batters under control until the 7th inning. Then Victor Alvarez walked, and moved to second base on Pedro Powell’s ground out. C Milver Reyes’s RBI single brought Alvarez home. Erie brought in reliever Casey Fien, who was greeted by James Boone’s third homer in two games, this one a 2-run blast to give the Curve the lead and the win.

Sunday: The final game of the series between the Curve and the SeaWolves was postponed due to rain. It will be played as part of a double header (two 7-inning games) on May 3rd.

CURVE NOTES:
Trivia Answer: Andrew McCutchen hit two inside-the-park homers for the Curve in 2007.

Roster Moves:
Infielder Jason Bowers was promoted to Indianapolis to take the roster spot of injured Indian Luis Ordaz.
Pedro Powell came of the Disabled List to fill in Bowers’ roster spot.

Streaks:
Brad Corley has a 6-game hitting streak going.
James Boone has a 5-game streak, but he has hit safely in 15 of 16 games.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 10:35 am and is filed under James Boone, Jonel Pacheco, Josh Hill, Corey Hamman, Jason Bowers, Kyle Bloom, Pedro Powell, Chris Hernandez, Andrew McCutchen, AA - Altoona Curve, Dave Davidson, Brad Corley, Milver Reyes, Pittsburgh Pirates Minor-League Affiliates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.