Curve Lose 9th Straight

BOWIE, MD- The Bowie Baysox plated seven first-inning runs against Curve starter Luis Munoz, but had to hold on for an 8-7 win in the opener of a four-game series Friday night at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, MD.

Trailing 7-1 after one inning, the Curve chipped away at the Bowie lead and had the tying run at second base with one out in the top of the ninth inning before Baysox' closer James Hoey closed the door on the Altoona rally to earn his 12th save in as many opportunities

Altoona (19-26) has now lost nine straight games, adding to the second-longest losing streak in franchise history.  The Curve are just two losses away from matching the longest skid in club history, an 11-game slide from April 15-26, 2000.

Munoz (5-2), who won each of his first five decisions, suffered his second consecutive loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, in retiring only two batters before giving way to reliever Alay Soler.

The seven-run frame was highlighted by an opposite-field, three-run homer by Jeff Fiorentino and a two-run shot by Bryan Bass. 

After Altoona plated a pair of runs against Bowie starter Craig Anderson in the top of the second, Oscar Salazar touched up Soler for a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to give Bowie an 8-3 lead. 

The Baysox failed to score another run against Soler, Dave Davidson and Mike Nannini, giving the Curve offense an opportunity to get back into the game.

In the top of the third, Adam Boeve drew Altoona within three runs with a two-run home run -- his sixth of the season -- to make it an 8-5 game. 

The score stayed that way until the seventh, when Andrew McCutchen singled home a pair of runs against Baysox' reliever Rommie Lewis, cutting the deficit to 8-7.

In the top of the ninth, the Curve attempted to finish the comeback against Hoey, who entered his appearance having tossed 15 2/3 scoreless innings.  The hard-throwing right-hander walked lead-off batter Brandon Chaves and hit Randy Ruiz with a pitch to put two men on with only one out.  However, Hoey ended the threat by getting Matt Meath to pop up to third and striking out McCutchen to end the game.

Anderson (4-1) survived six innings to earn the win for the Baysox.  After allowing five runs in his first three innings, the 26-year old Australian retired the final 11 Curve hitters he faced.

The Curve will look to avoid their 10th straight loss in the second game of the four-game series against Bowie Saturday night at 7:05 PM.  Wardell Starling (2-3, 5.19) will get the starting assignment for Altoona against Baysox' lefty Chris Waters (0-4, 3.44).