(ALTOONA, PA)- Shawn Hill tossed a complete-game eight-hitter as the Harrisburg Senators sent the Altoona Curve to just its second loss in its last 13 games with an 11-2 win Thursday night at Commerce Bank Park in Harrisburg.
Hill (5-6), rated as one of the Expos\’ top pitching prospects, allowed just two runs, walked one and struck out six in notching his second complete game of the season.
Despite the loss, Altoona (38-27) will enter its huge weekend series against second-place Erie with a one-game lead over the SeaWolves in the Eastern League Southern Division standings. Erie dropped a 7-5 decision at home to Reading Thursday night .
The Curve still finished its seven-game road trip to Reading and Harrisburg with a 5-2 record and has won 11 of its last 13 games. Harrisburg (22-43), despite the win, continues to hold the Eastern League\’s worst record and remains a distant 16 games behind Altoona in the Southern Division standings.
Bryan Bullington (5-3) allowed six runs–four earned–in his 4 2/3 innings of work to take the loss for the Curve. The right-hander allowed six hits, walked four and gave up a big two-run home run to Jason Belcher in the Harrisburg fourth inning that gave the Senators a 4-0 lead.
The Curve got within 4-1 in the top of the fifth on a Ray Sadler RBI single, but Harrisburg answered with two more in the bottom of the frame and then tallied five runs between the seventh and eighth innings against reliever Matt Bimeal.
Jeff Keppinger accounted for the Curve\’s second and final run in the top of the eighth on an RBI groundout, but his 14-game hitting streak came to an end after going 0-for-3. Despite going hitless, Keppinger remains over the .400 mark at .405–the highest batting average among all hitters in the both the major and minor leagues.
Sadler accounted for three of Altoona\’s eight hits by going 3-for-4. Nate McLouth went 1-for-4 to move his consecutive games on-base streak to 22 games. The outfielder is now just five games shy of J.J. Davis\’ club record set during the 2002 season.
Senators outfielder Rich Lane enjoyed one of the best nights of his career, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored, while Belcher chipped in three hits to add to his club\’s 12-hit attack.
The Curve next returns home to open a seven-day, eight-game series against Erie at Blair County Ballpark beginning Friday night with a make-shift doubleheader starting at 5:35 p.m. The two clubs will pick up their suspended game from May 2 in the top of the second inning with no score and play it to a nine-inning conclusion. The regularly scheduled contest will follow and be played to seven innings.
Ironically, the two pitchers that were on the mound when the rains came on May 2 will have the opportunity to finish the game. The Curve will have right-hander Ian Snell (5-3, 3.39) on the hill opposing fellow righty Kenny Baugh of the SeaWolves. In the nightcap, Curve right-hander Neal McDade (1-0, 5.12) is scheduled to get the nod against Erie right-hander Matt Roney.
