Thunder Sweep Curve

TRENTON- The Trenton Thunder plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and those runs provided the difference as Thunder completed a three-game sweep of the Curve with a 3-2 win Friday night at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ.

Trenton, the Eastern League's top team at 54-31, including an impressive 35-12 record at home, avenged a four-game sweep at the hands of the Curve last week at Blair County Ballpark, and won their seventh game in a row.  Altoona (42-42) has lost the first three games of their six-game, pre-All-Star Break road trip, which will continue Saturday night in BOwie.

Josh Shortslef (2-8) started for the Curve pitched well, but was tagged with his eighth loss in ten decisions.  The left-hander allowed three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out seven.

Thunder starter Alan Horne (9-3), an Eastern League All-Star Game selection, earned his ninth victory after holding the Curve to two runs -- one earned -- over six strong innings. Horne struck out seven batters to increase his season total to 113 in 99 2/3 innings.  He ranks second among E.L. hurlers in strike outs.

The Curve scored their only two runs in the top of the sixth inning, stringing together four consecutive singles after outs in the frame.  Neil Walker and Steven Pearce started the rally and each scored on subsequent run-scoring hits from Andrew McCutchen and Jason Delaney.

Altoona failed to score over the game's final three innings against Trenton relievers Michael Gardner and Tim Lavigne and dropped their second consecutive one-run game to the Thunder.

The Curve will send right-hander Justin Vaclavik (2-5, 8.13) to the mound for the series opener against Bowie, while the Baysox will counter with righty Beau Hale (5-3, 4.14).  First pitch from Prince George's Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m.