Curve Rally to Sweep Rock Cats

 ALTOONA- Neil Walker tripled home the tying run and scored the eventual game-winner as part of a four-run eighth inning that lifted the Curve to a 5-2 win over the New Britain Rock Cats Thursday night at Blair County Ballpark.  The victory -- Altoona's eighth straight at home -- gave the Curve a three-game series sweep of the Rock Cats to open their six-game homestand.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Curve offense, which had been held in check for most of the night by New Britain starter Jesse Floyd, erupted for four runs to seize the lead. 

Reliever Frank Mata walked leadoff man Brett Roneberg, who then scored the tying run two batters later on Walker's triple, which was misplayed by right fielder Rashad Eldridge.  The next batter, Adam Boeve, knocked in Walker with the go-ahead tally on a sacrifice fly to right.  Altoona added two more runs in the frame on RBI's by Brian Peterson and Brandon Chaves. 

The four-run eighth helped Curve right -hander Kip Bouknight earn his team-leading seventh win of the season.  Bouknight (7-2) worked eight strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits, and joined Trenton's Jeff Marquez and Erie's Dallas Trahern as the only Eastern League pitchers with more than six wins so far this season. 

Curve closer Matt Peterson recorded a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning to preserve the 5-2 win and Altoona's first-ever sweep of the Rock Cats.  Peterson is now 12-for-13 in save opportunities this season.  J.P. Martinez (0-2), who allowed three of the Curve's four eighth-inning runs, took the loss for New Britain (31-29).

Walker's eighth-inning triple was one of his three extra-base hits in the game to add to his league-leading total in the category.  The Curve third baseman and former Pirates' first round selection now has 33 extra-base hits to lead all Eastern League batters after a 3-for-4 night at the plate.  Chaves also posted three extra-base hits in the contest, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a triple.

Steven Pearce, the league's hottest hitter entering Thursday's action with a .465 average and 21 RBI in his last 11 games, was held hitless by New Britain pitching in the game to bring an end to both his 11-game hitting streak and 18-game on-base streak.

The Curve (32-30) will continue their homestand Friday night at Blair County Ballpark with the opener of a three-game set against the Connecticut Defenders (San Francisco Giants).  First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.  Right-hander Luis Munoz (6-3, 3.70) will take the mound for Altoona against Connecticut righty Dave McKae (1-0, 0.60).

The Zooperstars will provide the entertainment throughout the game, and earlier in the day, two high school state baseball champions will be crowned at BCB as the PIAA Championships get underway.  Title games in Class A and AAA will be contested at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.  

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