Curve Fall in Rain Shortened Game in Erie
By: K.C. Kantz
Updated: April 30, 2012
ERIE, Pa. - A pair of five-run Erie SeaWolves innings at the plate and a downpour following the sixth inning added up for a rain-abbreviated 10-5 loss for the Curve in Monday night's series opener of four at Jerry Uht Park.
The SeaWolves wasted no time gaining the upper hand in their first turn at the bat Monday, seizing their opportunity against Curve starter Nathan Baker with five runs coming on four hits in the first inning. Michael Rockett drove home two with a single to cap the scoring and give Erie a 5-0 advantage, the fourth of four Wolves to drive home runs in the frame.
Altoona began chipping away in the second inning when Jeremy Farrell tripled with a pair aboard to bring both in and cut Erie's lead to 5-2. Two innings after that, it was Ramon Cabrera's turn. His RBI triple plated Tony Sanchez immediately following Sanchez's leadoff single, and one batter later, Cabrera came home on a Zack Segovia wild pitch to make it a one-run contest at 5-4. The next six Altoona batters to the plate went down in order, though, and the SeaWolves took over in the bottom of the fifth.
Three of the first four Wolves reached against Baker (2-3) to chase Altoona's starter with the bases loaded, and after reliever Jhonathan Ramos induced a groundout from Rockett for the inning's first run and second out, it appeared the Curve could limit the damage and live to fight on in a two-run game. But Ramos walked Jamie Johnson to reload the bases and surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Niuman Romero to break the game open at 9-4. Romero scored one batter later on Brandon Douglas's single, and the night was out of reach.
Though Segovia (2-2) allowed a run in the top of the sixth to make it a 10-5 game, the skies opened up over Uht Park following the sixth. After a 36-minute downpour, the game was called with Erie claiming a series-opening win.
This series continues Tuesday night at Uht Park with Altoona sending right-hander Brandon Cumpton (2-2, 3.60) to the hill. Erie will counter with southpaw Jared Wesson (2-1, 5.91) with first pitch for the second game of this four-game set slated for 6:35 p.m. Airtime on ESPN 1430 in Altoona and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:05.
--Curve Media Relations--
