Its amazing when you look at the difference between success of each division of the Eastern League. 19 games. The 50-69 combined record of the West vs. the 69-50 record of the Eastern Division. The East is playing significantly better this year.
Questions still arise whether Altoona is for real. But its hard to tell at this point. Trends would suggest that they are not for real, because the teams they have played are losing to all the other teams they are playing, and the 4 teams they played all year are still the worst 4 teams overall. Besides the 4-16 Tennessee Smokies, who Altoona bested in the season scrimmage, Harrisburg, at 4-15 is the worst team in the minors.
Altoona has not had any players get promoted to "AAA" yet, but there may be bad news for Altoona fans soon, as "AAA" affiliate Indianapolis is sporting a 4-17 record right now. They need players soon, and Curve greats Chris Nelson and others may be called up soon.
If Altoona reaches the 20 win mark by next week, they are definitely going to be considered one of the bests Altoona has ever seen.
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
Altoona, PA -- Altoona has struggled to get runs this year despite a strong record. Well, look no further than Thursday evening, as Altoona recorded a Franchise record 15 runs on 20 hits. The Curve had scored 15 total runs in the first 3 games against Harrisburg, and they matched that in the last game alone. Vance Worley kept his lights out pitching as he improved to 4-0. Altoona travels to Akron starting tomorrow.
Shockingly enough, Harrisburg kicked off the top half of the first very strongly, as a near home run hit still turned into a run later in the inning.
Almost a HR
Altoona ends the inning
Chris Nelson hit a homerun to start the second inning for Altoona. Gonzalez and McDonough singled after that and were both hit in when PITCHER Vance Worley hit a double!
Strong inning for Altoona
Altoona was no where near done yet, as they took a 3-1 lead to the 3rd. They then had two 4 run innings. You can check the box score for all the details, as it would take forever to explain everything that happened. Senators starting pitcher was taken out in the 3rd inning. Harrisburg tried to not make it seem like they were a high school team in the 5th adding 2 more runs.
Doesn't get much more embarrassing
Guerra came in to pitch a solid last 3 innings to pick up his first save of the year, though I would rarely call it that. Absolute hideous performance from League worst Harrisburg, and an absolute dominant performance from league best Altoona. It will be interesting to see how this dominant momentum carries over into Ohio.
Some interesting notes include Altoona ending their second home stand still having yet to play a game at home that has had clear skies. Fans can't know what the stadium really looks like in good weather. Catcher Eric Gonzalez was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, as he was named player of the game. This game could definitely spark some names to be called up to "AAA" Indianapolis, which could be hurtful for Altoona. Akron sports a 9-12 record as a sweep of Altoona would get them back to .500. These two teams will be playing 16 games in the next month together.
This is Adam Rose with the Altoona Mirror, I will be back next week, and I hope Altoona is just as dominant as they were today.
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
I have no clue how everyone was hitting so nicely.
jseadog1 wrote:
Steroids?
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
Akron, OH -- The Rubberducks could not stop the flaming Altoona Curve from winning their 6th straight. Altoona won 4-1 with help by Jeff Chacin as he had 3 hits on the day as leadoff hitter for Altoona. The teams will play again Saturday night.
Akron's Home Field
Like many games for Altoona this year, they were behind early. Akron got their one and only run early in the 2nd when Holley tripled to right field thanks to a misjudged dive by Chacin in left field. Alonso grounded him in as the next batter. 1-0 Ducks. Tanaka and Aquino both singled to start the top half of the 3rd for Altoona. Rodriguez slammed a double as the next batter to score both Tanaka and Aquino.
Curve hitting very good lately
Decent fielding too!
Scott Baker pitched lights out for Altoona as he pitched 7 very strong innings. Blanton came in to pitch the 8th, and Brad Pena closed things in the 9th. Altoona added on 2 more in the 8th when McGuiness doubled and was hit in by Nelson. Nelson was then himself hit in later when Aquino sacrificed. Altoona has been squeeze bunting alot this season.
Jeff Chacin had 2 steals for Altoona on the day along with his 3 hits. Altoona nearly has a 10 game lead in the division, a lead that no team in this division has had in over 5 years. And with it being this early in the season, Altoona could be near playoff berth already. The Curve are now 2-2 on Friday nights, and 18-4 on the year, a Minor League Record.
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
And with it being this early in the season, Altoona could be near playoff berth already.
I actually don't know how many games are in a MiLB season.
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
Akron, OH -- Something happened for the first time all year Sunday evening. Altoona lost 2 in a row. Akron swept the double header in 2 thrillers. The first game saw a 14 inning game end at 5-4. The second game was very high scoring and back and forth. Akron won 9-6 though! Altoona will travel to Erie next.
Game 1
In the first game, things did not go as planned for Altoona. In their only 2 double headers of the year, the first game in both of them has went at least 14 innings, tiring the players and benching many of the pitchers. Altoona had just 3 bench pitchers left for Game 2.
Altoona scored quick in the beginning when Chacin and Lopez both singled. Chacin scored when Gonzalez hit a fly ball deep in center. 1-0 after 1. A strong second inning by Akron scored all the runs they would get in regulation as 3 runs were scored. Villasmil and Nishii and Adamson all doubled back to back to back to open the inning. Dorta sacrificed to score the third run of the inning.
Prospect Bobby O'Malley finally hit that home run he has been wanting in the 4th inning. It was well over the fence, and the first ever in his young MiLB career.
O'Malley with a confidence booster
Altoona tied matters in the 5th when McGuiness reached on a single. a fielding error proved costly for Akron as a should be third out turned into an error. Nelson was able to ground to center for a single to score the run. It was a pitchers dual from here on out however, as no runs were scored again until the 13th. Altoona, looking to win their 7th straight, scored after Gonzalez singled. With 2 outs, Cabrera sailed a double to left center that was deep enough to score Cabrera. Brad Pena came in for the save, however a slow knuckle ball was no trick for Vasquez as he crunched the ball over the left field wall. Tie game.
In the bottom of the 14th, with Pena looking for 1 more inning of relief, he successfully struck out the first batter. Another out should of came next, but on the dropped third strike, the catcher overthrew first base. A few hits later, and the Ducks have won!
A second game that should have started at 7:05 would not be getting underway until 8:30.
Game 2
If you could describe this game in one word, it would be FRUSTRATION. When you have your best inning all year, and allow the most runs in a single game all year, you can't help but to think what could have and should have been. Altoona got off to the worst start all year as they were in the hole 4-0 early after the first 4 innings.
The 5th inning brought 10 runs total, the highest scoring inning in the league all year. It started with Altoona notching 6. Balladres hitting his 3rd home run of the year secured the lead for Altoona, 6-4.
Strong inning by the Curve
They ruined it though. Starting pitcher Connelly was brought out just as soon as he thought he could maintain the lead. He gave up 4 in the inning, a few singles and doubles. But it wasn't all his fault. Altoona was playing very sloppy baseball, they had 4 errors, all of which could have easily been skipped. Altoona could not add on any more runs, and they hang their heads as they head to Erie looking to get back to winning ways.
Altoona luckily can afford these losses handed to them. Jason McDonough will be out of action for 2 months after sustaining a torn finger ligament. His replacement will be named later tonight. Altoona still leads the division by 6 games, and the entire league by 3 games.
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
Erie, PA -- In a boring low scoring game, Erie held off an Altoona comeback with a walk-off homerun to win 3-1 and give Altoona their 3rd loss in a row. Erie is now just 1 game short of getting to .500 for the first time all year.
Blue River Stadium, known for being one of the best
The highlights were dim in this one but things got started in the first right off the bat for Erie as Ackerman singled. A few sacrifices got him to 3rd base and then Mathewson avoided a grounder to end the inning by lining past the 3rd baseman to left for a single. 1-0 Sea Wolves. That was the only scoring we saw clear to the ninth as nobody could score.
Altoona having trouble hitting
In the ninth, Altoona managed to get a double by Chacin that would extend his hitting streak. With 2 outs, it was looking like Altoona would be shut-out, but Balladres came through with a huge hit to the center right gap to tie things up. They were almost able to score again but Tanaka could not come through after a McGuiness single.
Bottom of the ninth, Barnhart in his second inning of relief. He gets a strikeout followed by allowing a single. Then he gets a fly out to right field. Just 1 more out to send this to extra innings. He couldn't do it though, Butler slammed a ball that was no doubt going to be a home run.
Sea Wolves win
Altoona lost yet again, and will yet again look to get back to their winning ways when they play Erie again tomorrow.
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
Erie, PA -- Altoona returned to their winning ways Tuesday afternoon with a strong 2 HR showing and a 7-3 win. Pitcher Vance Worley is now 5-0 on the season, best pitcher start in Altoona history. For someone that has pitched in the majors before, he is on his road back. The two teams square off again tomorrow afternoon.
Joey Naquin got his first start for Altoona today as he was called up from Single A to Double A! He will bat at the 9 spot and play his regular right field position. He actually recorded the first two outs as he caught to fly balls. The second inning got started with a lucky Curve hit as the ball hit by Aquino actually hit the right fielder in the face.
He was taken out of the game after this
Gonzalez came up big with two men on to hit his first Home Run of the season, and there was no doubt about it. The Curve put another on the board in the 4th when Coronado joined the HR party. 4-0 Curve.
First 2 HR game this season for the Curve
A few good hits by Erie put them on the board in the latter half of the 4th as they put 2 runs on to cut the score in half. 4-2 Curve. In the 6th, Altoona added another one when Aquino doubled. He had a strong day! Relief pitcher Nunez came in to pitch the 7th, and he have up a run after allowing a triple. Curve still lead 5-3.
Naquin's first hit in the 8th!
Tanaka with a hit
Altoona added 1 run in the 8th and 9th. Nelson smashed a hit that went the whole way to the wall and then Aquino hit another fly ball that would be deep enough to score him. In the 9th, with runners on first and second, Altoona decided to bunt the runners over, but the perfect bunt turned into a bases loaded single. Now Rodriguez would ground into a double play, but Coronado still scores!
Worley POTG yet again!
Altoona will try to stay with the winning ways against Erie twice more before returning back home!
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
Worley pitched lights out. Usually when we lose its because we are down early by giving up runs in the first or second inning. And when we lose games and it looks like other teams will catch us in the standings, they end up losing too. So we are still up 6 games in the division anyways!
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
you need to find the key to closing that losing streak
