Doug Gredvig homered among three hits and Mike Paradis tossed seven solid innings as the Bowie Baysox downed the Altoona Curve, 9-4, Sunday before 2,946 at Prince George’s Stadium.
Bowie (40-72) avoided being swept by Altoona (60-53), which lost for just the fifth time in its last 19 games.
Despite the defeat, the Curve did not lose ground in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern League’s Southern Division. Second-place Reading and third-place Harrisburg also lost. Altoona is three and half games behind the Phillies for the last post-season position and two strides in back of the Senators.
The Baysox snapped a 3-3 tie with a three-run sixth against Curve starter Justin Reid (9-6). Keith Reed’s RBI single preceded a two-run double from Ed Rogers.
Gredvig, who had singled in the first and sixth innings, broke the game open in the seventh with a two-out, three-run homer off reliever Neal McDade.
Trailing 9-3, Altoona got a run back in the top of the eighth and loaded the bases with one out. However, reliever Tim Corcoran worked out of the jam to keep the Baysox margin at five runs.
Altoona jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first. Tony Alvarez and Kevin Sefcik singled and Carlos Rivera walked to load the bases. Dan Meier and J.J. Davis stroked consecutive RBI singles to account for the runs.
After Bowie trimmed the lead to 2-1 with a tally in the bottom of the first, Altoona restored the advantage to two with an run-producing single by Rivera in the second.
The Baysox drew even against Reid with a pair in the third. Napoleon Calzado doubled in a run and scored later in the inning on a grounder by Luis Matos.
Reid allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits over six innings in taking the loss. Paradis (6-10) yielded three runs on eight hits in his seven frames to collect the win.
The Curve returns home to open a seven-game homestand Monday against Erie. In the lidlifter of a four-game set with the SeaWolves, Altoona sends lefty John Grabow (6-10, 6.08) to the mound. Erie counters with right-hander Nate Tekavec (6-6, 6.27). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. with the gates of Blair County Ballpark to open at six o’clock.
Monday is “Bucco Mania” Night at the ballpark with several Pirates-related activities planned. The first 6,000 fans will receive a free Pirates visor. Pirate greats Bob Robertson and Manny Sanguillen will sign autographs from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The Pirate Parrot, the world-famous Pierogies, and the Bucco Brigade will be on hand to entertain. The evening will be capped with a fireworks spectacular following the Curve-Erie Sewolves ballgame.
