The Result
Curve - 3 runs to 0

The Curve - Year-to-Date
44 won and 30 lost

Brett's Position and the Batting Order
Playing - Leftfield
Batting - #4
---------------Bottom of the ninth innings
---------------Defensive Substitution - Ray Sadler replaces right fielder Rafael Alvarez, batting 4th
---------------Defensive switch from right field to left field for Rafael Alvarez. Replaces Brett Roneberg

At the end of the Game
0 hit from 3 at-bats - 1 x run scored, 1 x walk, 1 x strike out

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Led off the innings
No game audio - details below are from the 'play-by-play' report
Brett Roneberg walks
Simon Pond homers on a fly ball to right field. Brett Roneberg scores
David Parrish called out on strikes
Rafael Alvarez strikes out swinging
Brant Ust grounds out, pitcher Bear Bay to shortstop Ivan Ochoa to first baseman Ryan Mulhern
Walk
Scored on a Home Run
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
No game audio - details below are from the 'play-by-play' report
Vic Buttler grounds out, first baseman Ryan Mulhern to pitcher Bear Bay
Brett Roneberg flies out to right fielder Brad Snyder
Simon Pond singles on a line drive to right fielder Brad Snyder
David Parrish grounds into a force out, shortstop Ivan Ochoa to second baseman Eider Torres. Simon Pond out at 2nd
Fly out to rightfield - F9
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at second base - one down
No game audio - details below are from the 'play-by-play' report
Javier Guzman pops out to first baseman Ryan Mulhern
Craig Stansberry homers on a fly ball to left field
Vic Buttler doubles on a fly ball to center fielder Nathan Panther
Brett Roneberg pops out to shortstop Ivan Ochoa
Simon Pond grounds out, first baseman Ryan Mulhern to pitcher Bear Bay
Fly out to shortstop - F6
Fourth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Led off the innings
No game audio - details below are from the 'play-by-play' report
Pitcher Change: Bubbie Buzachero replaces Tony Sipp
Brett Roneberg strikes out swinging
Simon Pond flies out to center fielder Nathan Panther
David Parrish singles on a line drive to right fielder Brad Snyder
Rafael Alvarez grounds out to first baseman Ryan Mulhern
Strike out

Heard during the game

Email from Brett

I just want to let you all know that the last few days have been okay at best
I am very tired
I think I've missed one game since I've been here
I am mentally exhausted
I think maybe tomorrow I might not play, but I am not sure though
You will find out tomorrow
I want to play
The reason is that I came out today was because he wanted to get the best defensive outfielder we have into the game, if there was a throw, so he put him in and took me out
I talked to Leiper and he knows I am a little tired but said that - "You are my best option and I want you in there"
I will get some good food tonight, some deep, deep sleep and make sure I am ready to go tomorrow
Hope to make it exciting for you all to listen to tomorrow
Wish me luck
STAY BACK!!

Thanks for the emails but what I said wasn't meant to be worrying
Just meant to inform you all about what's going on, that's all
They just worry sometimes about my arm
Remember its supposed to be two years before I am 100% to play everyday in the outfield
I know my hitting will get better - very soon!!
Bye til tomorrow or the next day

Game Reports

Wardell Starling and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and Simon Pond and Craig Stansberry each homered as the Curve evened their three-game series against first-place Akron with a 3-0 shutout victory Sunday afternoon at Canal Park in Akron, OH

Starling (1-0), who was making just his second Double-A start with the Curve, worked out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the bottom of the first inning and went on to work five scoreless innings to pick up the win
The 23-year old right-hander, who was the Pirates' fourth round selection in the 2002 draft, walked four batters and struck out four, while allowing just three hits

Franklin Perez tossed three scoreless frames to keep the shutout in place before turning the game over to closer Brandon Knight, who picked up his team-high thirteenth save of the season after holding the league's top hitting club off the board in the ninth

After being shut out by the Aeros in Saturday night's series opener, the Curve got on the board for the first time in the series on a two-run homer by Pond in the top of the second inning
The longball was his ninth of the season and briefly tied him with Stansberry for the club lead

In the sixth, Stansberry re-took the team lead in home runs with a solo shot off Akron starter Bear Bay

Bay (4-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in six innings of work

The victory ended the Curve's six-game losing skid against Akron and moved Altoona (44-30) within four games of the first-place Aeros in the E.L. South

Altoona and Akron will play the rubber game of their three-game series Monday night at Canal Park
Left-hander Shane Youman (4-2, 1.65) will start for the Curve against Aeros' right-hander and Indians' top-rated prospect, Adam Miller (7-4, 3.75)

First pitch is set for 7.05pm

Wardell Starling and two relievers combined on a three-hitter as visiting Altoona blanked Akron, 3-0, on Sunday

Starling (1-0) yielded all three hits, struck out four and walked four over five innings to pick up his first win since being called up from Class A Advanced Lynchburg, where he went 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA in thirteen outings

The 23-year-old right-hander was roughed up for four runs on seven hits over three innings in his Eastern League debut against Harrisburg on Tuesday, but did not receive a decision in the Curve's 9-5 win

Franklin Perez pitched the seventh and eighth before Brandon Knight worked the ninth for his thirteenth save, tying him with Bowie's Marino Salas for third in the Eastern League

Simon Pond hit a two-run homer and Craig Stansberry belted a solo shot, his tenth, for the Curve (44-30), who ended a two-game skid

Akron starter Bear Bay (4-5) allowed three runs on four hits over six innings, walking one and striking out three

The Aeros (48-26) lead second-place Altoona by four games in the South Division

The Curve finally solved their nemesis, using what recently has become a familiar formula for success - the sizzling bats of Simon Pond and Craig Stansberry and solid starting pitching that may not always be pretty to watch

Pond and Stansberry each homered, and Altoona starter Wardell Starling combined with two relievers on a three-hitter to help the Curve defeat Akron, 3-0, at Canal Park on Sunday afternoon

The win snapped Altoona’s six-game losing streak to the Aeros

Starling (1-0) contained Akron’s offense for five innings to earn his first Double-A win
The right-hander allowed three hits - all in the first three innings - and often had to wiggle out of trouble in the early going
Starling walked four and struck out four in his second start for the Curve

Akron starter Bear Bay (4-5) gave up three runs in six innings to pick up the loss

Bay allowed just four hits, but one of those was a two-run blast by Pond in the second inning to give Altoona a 2-0 lead
Pond later singled and finished the game 2-for-4
The slugging first baseman owns a nine-game hitting streak, hitting .500 (16-for-32) during the span, and also leads the team with 48 RBI's
Pond’s ninth home run briefly tied him with Stansberry for the team lead
Not to be outdone, the second baseman slugged a solo shot in the sixth inning to regain the lead with ten
Stansberry has hit .471 (16-for-37) in his last ten games

Brandon Knight shook off his extra-inning defeat on Saturday night by blanking the Aeros in the ninth for his thirteenth save

Akron threatened to blow the game open at the beginning, as Starling threw twelve of his first sixteen pitches for balls and loaded the bases with no outs in the first on two walks and a single
Starling escaped that jam, as he did again in the second and third, stranding runners in scoring position each time
He then retired nine off his final ten batters

The Aeros offense continued to sputter, managing just three hits in a 3-0 loss to the Curve on Sunday afternoon

Starter Ronald ``Bear'' Bay gave up just four hits, but two of them were home runs, including a two-run shot by Simon Pond that put the Curve on the board in the second inning

Aeros left-handed reliever Tony Sipp saw action for just the second time in two months, shutting out Altoona hitters in the seventh and eighth

Up next - the Aeros conclude this homestand tonight with a 7.05pm game against the Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Aeros right-hander Adam Miller (7-4, 3.75 ERA) will face Curve left-hander Shane Youman (4-2, 1.65 ERA)