– Back-to-back-to-back home runs by Ronny Paulino, Kevin Nicholson and Ray Sadler to open the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Altoona Curve to a 9-3 win over the Harrisburg Senators Tuesday night at Blair County Ballpark.
Never before in the Curve\’s six-year franchise history had three straight batters hit home runs until the trio of Paulino, Nicholson and Sadler went deep in succession against Harrisburg starter Jason Stevenson (4-5).
Overall, Altoona (32-25) hit four long balls in earning its fifth consecutive win and 12th in its last 14 home games. Harrisburg fell to an Eastern League-worst 18-39 with its second straight loss to the Curve.
The third of the three consecutive home runs was belted by Sadler, who also blasted a solo shot in the fourth inning to account for his first two-homer game in a Curve uniform and the club\’s second in four games. Making the feat even more impressive was the fact that Sadler broke his bat in two pieces in the process of hitting the ball into the left-field bleachers for his sixth homer of the season.
Brady Borner (3-3) was the beneficiary of the Curve\’s instant offense in earning his first win in four starts and his third overall. The left-hander, who continues to fill in for injured starter Bobby Bradley, tossed a season-high six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking none and striking out three.
Stevenson, the Harrisburg pitcher who was charged with the loss, was ejected from the game in the bottom of the sixth after intentionally throwing a pitch behind Yurendell DeCaster after giving up the three consecutive home runs. DeCaster pointed his bat towards the mound, but no altercation ensued.
Four Curve hitters posted two-hit games, including Sadler (2-for-3) and Paulino (2-for-5). Josh Bonifay also had two hits, including a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to add insurance runs to the Altoona lead. Jeff Keppinger had the other multi-hit game for the Curve, going 2-for-4 to raise his season average to .358.
Nate McLouth went 1-for-3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. The streak is the longest by a Curve hitter this season and the fifth-longest in franchise history.
Altoona will look for a three-game series sweep of the Senators Wednesday night when it sends right-hander Landon Jacobsen (2-2, 6.41) to the mound for the 7:05 p.m. game. Harrisburg will counter with left-hander Luke Lockwood (1-9, 3.61), who will hope to avoid become the first 10-game loser in the minor leagues this year.
The Curve\’s Summer Blast-Off Series will continue with another post-game fireworks show following the game, compliments of Lakemont Park.
