Team Home for Three Game Set

The Curve return to Blair County Ballpark tonight for a three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators

The Curve are currently in the middle of a stretch of fourteen of seventeen games on the road

The Curve are currently only 2-1/2 games behind first-place Akron and hold a six-game advantage over the Senators for the second and final playoff spot in the Eastern League Southern Division

Jason Roach will take the mound for Altoona tonight at 7.05pm

The Senators, who come to town for a key three-game series starting Monday, have never fared well in Altoona, racking up a 19-51 all-time record at Blair County Ballpark
That 51-19 record for the Curve makes for a .729 winning percentage
That’s almost unheard of in baseball
It’s even more amazing when you consider the Curve are only 37-40 all-time when they travel to Harrisburg

The numbers are important and timely because the Curve have a golden opportunity to bury the Senators this week
If Altoona sweeps, its lead over Harrisburg in the battle for the Southern Division’s final playoff spot will approach double digits, a much needed cushion with only thirty-eight games remaining

As usual, the three-game set will feature many new and exciting promotions for fans of all ages

On Monday, the first 1,000 fans ages fourteen and under will get a free Curve Soccer Ball courtesy of Central PA Podiatry Associates, P.C
It's also BuccoMania night featuring an appearance by the Pirate Parrot!

Game two of the series will feature a fantastic fireworks display after the game
In addition, it's Karaoke Night and Hometowns of Huntingdon County Night

Finally, on Wednesday, July 26, the Curve and Senators will wrap up their three-game series with a special 12.00 noon start
Fans can expect a Wet'N'Wild time at the ballpark because it's Super Splash Day!
The weather forecast is calling for sun and more sun so come out to Blair County Ballpark and be ready to get wet!

Perez Perfection

With a scoreless inning in his last appearance in Altoona’s 8-5 win over Akron last Wednesday, Curve reliever Franklin Perez matched the franchise record for longest scoreless streak by a pitcher at 20-1/3 consecutive innings
The right-hander, who has not allowed a run since June 13th, is tied with Chris Spurling for the club record
Spurling established the previous club mark during the 2002 season

Lucky Number Ten

Landon Jacobsen became the Eastern League's first ten game winner last Friday night, tossing six solid innings as the Altoona Curve cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Bowie Baysox at Prince George's Stadium
Jacobsen (10-7) allowed one run on three hits and struck out four without issuing a walk
He retired the first eight batters before Peter Shier of Bowie hit a two-out double in the third
The 27-year-old right-hander has won five of his last seven decisions and moved into fourth place in the EL with a 3.10 ERA

Who's Hot - Who's Not

RHP Franklin Perez has tossed 20-1/3 consecutive scoreless innings since 6/13 to match the longest such streak in franchise history
C Dave Parrish is 16-for-45 (.356) in his last thirteen games and has reached base safely in nineteen of twenty-one games since 6/25
INF Javier Guzman is hitting .328 (21-for-64) in nineteen games in July
OF Ray Sadler is batting .091 (4-for-44) over his last twelve games

The Result
Curve - 2 runs to 0

The Curve - Year-to-Date
58 won and 42 lost

Brett's Position and the Batting Order
Playing - Rightfield
Batting - #4

At the end of the Game
2 hits from 4 at-bats - 2 x singles, 1 x run-batted-in

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runners at first and second base - one down
Called strike - on the outside corner
Ball - change up - downstairs
Ball - breaking ball - high
"And there's a hard hit line shot into leftfield!!! ...... and the runner is rounding third base and heading towards home!!! ...... the fielder picked the ball up and came up gunning his throw but the runner is safe at the plate!!! ...... and the Curve score the first run of the game on Brett's opposite field RBI single ...... and the Curve now have runners at first and second base with one down"
Single to leftfield - 1 x RBI
Advanced to second base on an infield ground out
Left stranded at the end of the innings
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at first base - two down
"Roneberg hits that back up the middle and into right-centrefield for a single ...... and Brett has both of the Curve's hits in the game so far here in the bottom of the third innings with two down"
Single to right-centrefield
Runner at first base advanced to third base
Brett advanced to second base on a wild pitch - see below in the "Heard during the Game" section
Left stranded at the end of the innings
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Led off the innings
Ball
Ball
Ball - "the pitcher is nibbling at the outside corner but Brett, who has a very good batting eye, is not tempted"
Called strike - "and Brett was taking all the way there"
Swing and a miss - "that was a very good breaking ball, inside and under the hands"
"There's a slow roller down the line and the pitcher picks it up and flips to the first-baseman for the first out of the innings"
Ground out to the pitcher - 1 to 3
Fourth at-bat
Lefthanded pitcher
Swing and a miss
"That's a ground ball to the Senators' first-baseman and he handles it nicely and throws on to the pitcher covering first base"
Ground out to first base - 3 to 1

Heard during the game

(#01) As Brett came in for his first at-bat, the commentator mentioned - "Brett comes in to tonight's game with a five game hitting streak ...... and that is the longest on the team at the moment"
And following Brett's hit, the commentator continued with - "And that hit extends Brett's hitting streak to six games"

(#02) Brett was on first base following his hit in his second at-bat - the pitcher threw to the next hitter, and the commentator said - "That pitch is low and in the dirt ...... the catcher is very nonchalant about picking it up and Roneberg takes the opportunity to go to second base ...... I don't know what the catcher was thinking, but the Manager of the Senators, who was a Major League catcher himself, wouldn't be happy that a runner was allowed to cruise into scoring position like that ...... a lot of credit has to go to Brett for that piece of very alert base running ...... it is a shame that that will go down as a wild pitch as it should be classed as an error on the catcher"

(#03) During the top of the fourth innings, a Senators' batter hit the ball into rightfield - unfortunately there was a bit of radio interference, but I did hear the commentator say - "That was a very good play by Brett out there in rightfield ...... he knew he wouldn't be able to get there for the catch, but he got down and kept the ball in front of him and held the runner to a single here in the fourth innings with two down for the Senators"

Email from Brett

Game Reports

Thanks to dominant work by starting pitcher Jason Roach, and relievers Franklin Perez and Brandon Knight, the Altoona Curve shutout the Harrisburg Senators Monday night, 2-0 at Blair County Ballpark

After Roach pitched seven lights-out innings, Perez pitched a scoreless eighth to set the franchise record for the longest scoreless streak by a pitcher at 21-1/3 innings
The record was held by Chris Spurling, who established the previous mark of 20-1/3 innings back in 2002
The right-hander has not allowed a run since June 13th

With a little help, the Curve built an early 1-0 lead
After an error by Senator first-baseman Josh Whitesell, which should have been an inning-ending double play, Brett Roneberg drove in Brandon Chaves from second base with an RBI single to left field
The single extended Roneberg’s current hitting streak to a team-high six games
He finished 2-for-4 on the night

Pinch-hitter Rafael Alvarez, drove in a run in the seventh to add an insurance run for Altoona
Taber Lee, who had stole second base after walking, scored from second on Alvarez's single to right field
Lee's stolen base was the only one of the night for the Curve and it was his second of the year

Roach won his fifth decision in a row Monday night after pitching seven shutout innings
He was lights out all night long, allowing only six hits while striking out four and walking none
He has not lost in a Curve uniform since April 26th

The Senators’ best chance to score was in the fifth inning after Salomon Manriquez and Seth Bynum connected for back-to-back singles
With runners on the corners and two outs, Roach quickly worked his way out of trouble, forcing leadoff batter Melvin Dorta to ground out back to the mound, ending the threat

Brandon Knight pitched a shutout ninth for his twentieth save of the season
He is tied with Justin Pope of Trenton for the league lead

Harrisburg starter Justin Echols picked up the loss for the Senators after pitching six-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits
The right-hander walked two and struck out three

With the loss, the Senators fall to seven games behind the Curve for the second and final playoff spot in the Eastern League Southern Division

Altoona and Harrisburg will continue their three-game set tomorrow evening at 7.05pm
Taking the mound for the Curve will be southpaw Shane Youman (7-2), who currently leads the Eastern League with a 1.43 ERA
Youman will face Senator left-hander David Maust (5-8, 5.23)

The Curve announced Monday that Adam West (“Batman”) will not making his scheduled “Curve Retro Celebrity Series” appearance during Tuesday’s 7.05pm game at Blair County Ballpark due to personal reasons
The Curve are currently working with Mr. West to reschedule his visit to Blair County Ballpark for a date during the month of August and the club will announce that date once it is mutually agreed upon by the two parties
West was first scheduled to appear at Blair County Ballpark on Tuesday, May 23rd, but that appearance had to be rescheduled for July 25th
As a result, fans holding unused tickets for the games of Tuesday, May 23rd or Tuesday, July 25th can exchange their tickets only for the soon-to-be-announced rescheduled date
Fans looking to reschedule tickets or purchase tickets for Tuesday’s game can get them in person at the Blair County Ballpark box office, over the phone by calling the Curve toll-free at 877-99-Curve

On Monday night in Altoona the Senators and Altoona Curve didn't muster much offense between them, but the Curve mustered enough and won the ballgame 2-0

Justin Echols started for the Senators and went six effective innings, allowing just two runs and walking two while striking out three

Jeremy Plexico pitched the final two innings without allowing a run in the loss

The Senators outhit Altoona 7-6, and had a couple of chances, but couldn't get the one 'big' hit to push across a run

Seth Bynum had two hits for the Senators and was twice sacrificed to second base by Justin Echols, but Bynum was stranded at second base on both occasions

Game two of the series is Tuesday night in Altoona with the first pitch set for 7.05pm
The game can be heard on 1460 The Ticket and through the Senators website beginning at 6.50pm

Here's the good news for the Harrisburg Senators
Right-handed starter Justin Echols, the Eastern League's leader in walks, has looked promising in his last two starts

The bad news
No offensive support

Altoona squeezed two runs out of Echols last night at Blair County Ballpark, and it was enough to lift the Curve to a 2-0 triumph

The Senators (52-50) managed seven hits and a walk against the Curve (58-42), but only once did a runner reach third base

Altoona right-hander Jason Roach (6-2) scattered six hits in seven innings, Franklin Perez allowed one hit in the eighth, and closer Brandon Knight survived a two-out walk ninth for his twentieth save

Echols (5-5), who worked six scoreless frames in his last outing, allowed five hits in six-plus innings, walking two and striking out three

With one out in the first inning, he plunked Brandon Chaves, who later scored on a single by former Senator Brett Roneberg

In the seventh he was pulled after walking Taber Lee and surrendering a single to Javier Guzman

Pinch-hitter Rafael Alvarez then greeted reliever Jeremy Plexico with an RBI single

Notes
Echols hasn't won in eight starts. His last victory came June 10 against New Britain
SS Seth Bynum (2-for-3) was the only Senator with multiple hits
1B Josh Whitesell was named the Eastern League's Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday
In seven games, Whitesell hit .526 (10-for-19) with four home runs, seven RBIs, five walks and his first stolen base of the season

Jason Roach won his fifth straight decision and reliever Franklin Perez set a team record as Altoona blanked visiting Harrisburg, 2-0, on Monday

Roach (6-2) allowed six hits - all singles - and struck out four over seven strong innings to improve to 4-2 with a 1.81 ERA at home this season

Perez worked the eighth inning to extend his scoreless streak to a franchise-best 21-1/3 frames
The 28-year-old right-hander has not yielded a run since June 13

Brandon Knight walked one before retiring the side in the ninth for his twentieth save

Brett Roneberg's RBI single in the first and pinch-hitter Rafael Alvarez's run-scoring base hit in the seventh provided the offense for Altoona

Senators starter Justin Echols (5-5) took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings

Seth Bynum went 2-for-3 for Harrisburg (52-50)

Jason Roach looked content as he sat on a leather recliner in the Curve clubhouse watching television
The lanky hurler might have been happier, however, if he was still out on the mound pitching

“I was coming in to the Altoona dugout begging to go back out” Roach said about being removed from Monday night’s contest
“No pitcher wants to come out of the game”

Roach tossed seven shutout innings to lead the Curve to a 2-0 victory over Harrisburg before 5,417 fans at Blair County Ballpark

Roach’s dominant outing lowered Altoona’s team ERA to 3.34, the best mark in the Eastern League

“Roachy was outstanding, really” Curve manager Tim Leiper said
“He threw strikes, he worked ahead the whole game, he had everything working for him and he was in command the whole game”

On June 14, Altoona placed next to last in the twelve team league with a 3.92 ERA, but since then, the Curve have allowed more than five earned runs in a game just three times

Altoona has won all fourteen games this season in which its starter has pitched at least seven innings

“You look back and you look at all the good starts we’ve had” Leiper said
“We have good, talented guys that have pitched here and they know what they’re doing”

Roach (6-2) was the latest Curve hurler to showcase that talent, surrendering just six harmless singles and allowing only one baserunner past second base Monday night
The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out four in his seventy-nine pitch stint

Roach faced his only jam in the fifth inning, when he gave up back-to-back singles with one out
Senators starter Justin Echols sacrificed the runner at first to second base, and when Roach threw a first-pitch ball to the next batter, catcher Dave Parrish trotted out to the mound for a brief word with the pitcher
“I just wanted to throw a different pitch that he hadn’t called” Roach said
“I had been trying to sink the fastball most of the game and I wanted to cut it a little bit
It’s just something that pitching coach) Ray Searage and I have been working on, on the bullpen sides”
The strategy worked wonders, as Roach induced a weak grounder back to the mound to escape the inning unscathed

Roach’s outstanding start masked another mediocre showing from Altoona’s hitters, who have struggled somewhat lately
The Curve have batted just .170 (16-for-94) with no extra-base hits in the last three games, while scoring just three runs in that span

“You know, three games; it’s a 140-game schedule” Leiper said
“We’re going to win some games, 2-0, like we did tonight, and we’re going to win some games, 9-3
Three games where you don’t get a lot of runs is not a big problem”

Altoona took full advantage of its six hits Monday night, scoring a run in the first inning off Brett Roneberg’s RBI single and then adding another in the seventh off pinch-hitter Rafael Alvarez’s run-scoring hit

With two on and one out in the first, Roneberg ripped a sinking liner that bounced under the Harrisburg shortstop’s outstretched arm to give the Curve a lead they would not relinquish

Roneberg has now batted .500 (10-for-20) with six RBIs in his last six games

“I love hitting every time guys are on base in front of me” Roneberg said
“That’s where you make your money, with those RBI's”

The Aussie slugger sounded confident his team’s hitting woes would soon turn around
“We’ve had a long time on the road lately and it’s been rough” Roneberg said
“Not sleeping in your own beds sometimes takes it out of you a little bit, but we’re home now for a little while”

Echols (5-5) suffered the loss by allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks
The right-hander struck out three

Brandon Knight pitched a hitless ninth inning to move into a tie for the league lead with his twentieth save

Around the Curve
SS Brian Bixler was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of a stiff neck

Altoona (Double-A, 58-42) won, 2-0, at home against Harrisburg (Nationals)

RHP Jason Roach (6-2) allowed no runs on six hits and struck out four in seven innings

RF Brett Roneberg went 2 for 4 and drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning

PH Rafael Alvarez drove in a run in the bottom of the seventh