After the celebrations Monday following clinching the second playoff spot, many of the Curve players probably didn’t feel much like playing baseball Tuesday. That didn’t seem to bother Altoona however, as Mike Connolly, Neal McDade and Todd Ozias combined to shut out Reading and the offense banged out 15 hits to knock off the Phillies 6-0 for their third straight win in the four-game series.
“After what some of their systems went through last night, it was nice,” said Curve manager Dale Sveum. “The offense came out and played hard and swung the bats well and Connolly pitched a heck of a game. McDade was really sharp again tonight and his base hit was big. It helped break open a big inning and got us another run. All year long, these guys come to play every day.”
Connolly limited Reading to a pair of singles and a double, striking out six and walking one over six innings to improve to 7-8. McDade pitched the seventh and eighth allowing no hits, walking one and striking out one. Ozias pitched the ninth to extend his club record to 22 saves, fanning the final two hitters looking.
“It’s not just wins and losses that you get judged by,” explained Curve pitching coach Jeff Andrews. “Every start this month that Connolly has had, he’s taken us in to at least the seventh inning with good outings. He’s found his way to pitch and he’s confident.”
Connolly and Reading hurler Layne Dawson were locked in a scoreless draw for the first three innings, until Josh Bonifay singled home Chris Shelton from second base in the bottom of the fourth. Shelton had crushed a shot off the top of the wall in left-center field to lead off the frame.
“This clubhouse has been tremendous all year,” said Bonifay, who had two singles and a double in four trips to the plate. “The guys in here are very professional, they know how to go about their business. They come in here and get their work done. It’s a tribute to the team. They have a big night like last night, throwing champagne all around and everything. You know you clinched, but the guys have a lot of pride. They come out and work hard everyday. They came out tonight also.”
Connolly was in serious trouble only in the fifth inning. Anderson Machado opened the inning by rifling a double down the third base line. Connolly fanned Edgar Cruz, got Karl Nonemaker to ground out first baseman Brett Roneberg to Connolly covering with Machado going to third, then struck out Dawson, who pitched a good game allowing just two runs in six and 2/3 innings, but suffered the loss.
In the sixth, Altoona added an insurance run. With one out, McDade, who had come on in relief for Connolly, singled up the middle, advanced to second and third on a single by Chris Duffy and walk to Roneberg and scored on a walk to Chris Shelton that forced in the second tally. It was McDade’s first professional base hit.
The Curve then broke the game open with four more runs in the eighth. Bonifay doubled and Ray Navarrete beat out an infield single to put runners at the corners. Joe Caruso scored Bonifay with another infield hit and after both runners moved up on a passed ball, Ray Sadler drilled a one-out single to left to score Navarrete and Caruso. After Duffy popped out, Roneberg, who has been hitting .469 in reaching base for the 17th straight game to increase his overall average from .250 to .283, singled home Sadler.
Altoona plays their final series of the year against the Erie Seawolves with five games, two on Friday, Aug. 29 and one each on Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day Monday who lead the Curve 8-7. The Curve needs to take three of the five games to win the season series.
Altoona has won the season series with every team that has completed the season with the Curve, except Akron. The Aeros, who the Curve face in a best of five playoff series for the right to meet the North Division champ, finished 11-9 against Altoona. The South Division playoff begins on Wednesday, Sept 3 and Thursday, Sept. 4 at Akron, moves to Altoona on Friday, Sept 5 and Saturday, Sept 6 if needed and then goes back to Akron for game five if needed on Sunday, Sept, 7.
Altoona (76-59) with a club record 76 wins, goes for the four-game sweep of Reading tonight at 7:05 at Blair County Ballpark. The Curve will pitch Ian Oquendo (3-0, 2.66) against Reading’s Seung-Hak Lee (11-6, 4.96).Mi
