Tag: Jordy Mercer

Mesa Solar Sox� 4,� Scottsdale Scorpions� 2

Without hot prospect Bryce Harper on the field, the Scottsdale Scorpions could not stand up to the Solar Sox.� Despite out-hitting the Solar Sox 8-7, the Scorpions managed only 2 runs as the Solar Sox took the win this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League.

The Solar Sox went down in order int he first two innings, but C Tony Sanchez got things going in the bottom of the third.� SS Jordy Mercer led off the inning with a single lined into left field, and Sanchez followed by depositing a fly ball over the left center field wall for a 2-run homer.

They added another run in the 4th inning.� With one out, 1B Josh Vitters (Cubs) walked, and a wild pitch pushed him to second base.� LF Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) singled into right field, scoring Vitters.� Mercer walked, but was out when Sanchez bounced back to the mound to begin a double play.� A solo home run by 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) gave the Solar Sox another insurance run with a solo home run in the 5th.

Robert Carson earned the win for the Solar Sox, despite only going 3 innings in his start.� He gave up 3 hits, no walks, and struck out 2 batters.� One of the hits was a single in the 2nd inning, followed immediately by a ground out started by Mercer at shortstop.� In the 3rd, Carson gave up a single and a double to open the inning, then got out of the jam with a strikeout and a double play -- a fly out to right field, and a stellar throw in from RF Andrew Lambo to Sanchez, who tagged out the lead runner at the plate.

Ryan Brasier pitched the next two innings, and he gave up the first Scorpions' run in the 5th.� It was an unearned run, courtesy of two missed catch errors.� 2B Charlie Culberson singled with one out, then moved to third base when 1B Vitters missed the catch on a pickoff attempt.� The next batter grounded to first, but this time Brasier missed the catch on Vitters' toss to first -- the batter was safe at first and Culberson scored.

BJ Rosenberg and Chris Kissock (both of the Phillies) each pitched a scoreless inning with each gving up a single.� Aaron Pribanic took the top of the 8th, and he walked the first batter he faced, then struck out the next two.� He ended the inning with a grounder to third, forcing out the runner at second base.

Robert Fish gave up the Scorpions' second run in the top of the 9th.� A walk and a double put two runners into scoring position, then an RBI single brought in the runner from third base.

The Solar Sox put runners on base in each of their last three at-bats.� Twice (6th and 8th) it was due to errors, and the runners did not advance.� In the 7th, DH Andrew Romine (Angels) and CF Jeremy Moore (also Angels) both singled) but two fly outs ended the inning.

Andrew Lambo went 0-for-4 in the game; his average stands at .265.� Jordy Mercer was 1-for-3 with a walk, and his average is .292.� Tony Sanchez has a .316 average and went 1-for-3 with his 2-run homer.� Pribanic has pitched a total of 5.1 innings for Mesa in 3 games and has not allowed an earned run.� Opponents are hitting .111 against him.

Scottsdale Scorpions� 6,� Mesa Solar Sox� 3

Washington National's 18-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper made his pro debut in the Arizona Fall League, and the Mesa Solar Sox got the short end of the deal.� Harper's first at-bat, against Mesa's Josh Zeid (Phillies) resulted in a sky-high pop-out to short.� Harper lined out to center field in the 4th, and grounded to third in the 6th, but it was in the 7th inning that he really hurt the Solar Sox.

The Solar Sox began the game with a run in the top of the 1st.� CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) doubled, but was thrown out trying to steal third base.� 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) also doubled and RF Andrew Lambo brought him home with a single up the middle.� The Scorpions got the run back in the bottom of the inning, on a double, a fielding error by Lambo, and an RBI ground out.

Zeid kept the Scorpions scoreless for the next two innings, allowing only a double.� Kyle Smit (Cubs) got a timely double play, turned by SS Andrew Romine (Angels) and 2B Josh Harrison, to get out of a jam in the 4th.� In the 5th, Smit loaded the bases on two walks and a single, then walked in a run� He was relieved by Chris Carpenter (Cubs), who gave up an RBI single before getting the last two outs of the inning.� Scorpions 3, Solar Sox 1.

The Mesa bats were quiet over those innings too.� Josh Satin (Mets) singled in the 3rd and Vitters singled in the 4th, but neither could come around to score.� Satin walked to open the 6th, but was forced out when Romine grounded to short (though Romine might have avoided a double play.� Moore doubled, and Romine scrambled around from first base to score.� Scorpions 3, Solar Sox 2.� The Sox threatened in the 7th, when Harrison and C Tim Kennelly (Phillies) hit back-to-back two-out singles, but a ground out ended the inning with both still on base.

Brian Leach took the mound to begin the bottom of the 7th, with the Solar Sox just one run down.� But the trouble started right away, when 2B Steve Lombardozzi ((Nationals) reached base on a throwing error by Satin.� AJ Pollock (Diamondbacks) doubled, moving Lombardozzi to third base.� After a fly out, 1B Jordan Pacheco (Team USA and Rockies) grounded to third, where Josh Vitters quickly fired to the plate so that Kennelly could tag out Lombardozzi.� That left runners on the corners and two outs.� Then Leach gave up a single to LF Marc Krauss (D'backs), driving in Pollock.� A wild pitch put runners on second and third, and a walk loaded the bases.� That brought up Harper.� He smacked a ground-rule double off the left field wall, missing a grand slam by inches, bringing in two more runs.� Leach was not charged with the loss (Smit was), and the 3 runs he gave up were unearned because of the error that opened the inning.

The Solar Sox scored one more run in the top of the 8th.� They loaded the bases on a single by Moore, and walks to Vitters and Lambo.� DH Jordy Mercer brought in the run with a sacrifice fly.� Justin De Fratus (Team USA and Phillies) pitched a scoreless bottom of the 8th, working around a throwing error by Romine at shortstop.

Mercer was 0-for-3 with the sacrifice fly.� Lambo went 1-for-3 with the RBI and a walk, and Harrison was 1-for-4.

Both the Venezuelan League and the Mexican Pacific League are off today.

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Peoria Javelinas� 4,� Mesa Solar Sox� 2

The Javelinas rallied for 2 runs in the top of the 10th, and the Solar Sox could not respond in this afternoon's Arizona Fall League action.

The Solar Sox had a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 9th.� Steven Geltz (Angels) had just taken the mound in relief for the Sox.� He got one out, then gave up a single to 3BLF Nate Tenbrink (Mariners).� The next batter, CF Jay Austin (Astros), grounded to first, but a fielding error by Mesa 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) put Austin safely at first and sent Tenbrink to third.� Another grounder to first by 3B Matt Lawson (Mariners) let Tenbrink score the tying run (unearned).

The Solar Sox went down in order in the bottom of the 9th, including two strikeouts.� Rizzotti was one of the strikeouts, and he must have said the wrong words to the umpire, because he was ejected in the middle of the frame.

The 10th inning began with Robert Fish (Angels) on the mound for Mesa and Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) taking over for Rizzotti at first base.� Fish began the inning by giving up a single and hitting a batter with a pitch.� A double play, fielded by SS Jordy Mercer, who stepped on second and threw on to Flaherty at first, gave Fish two outs, but put the lead runner on third.� Fish could not take advantage of that good fortune, though.� He walked the next batter, then gave up an RBI single to SS Jose Iglesias (Red Sox), driving in the go-ahead run from third.� Another walk, to Tenbrink, loaded the bases, and a second run scored when Fish threw a wild pitch.� A ground out to first ended the inning.� Once again, the Solar Sox could not respond, going down in order in the bottom of the 10th.

Brad Holt (Mets) made the start for Mesa.� He pitched 3 innings, and allowed the Javelina's first run (also unearned) in the 3rd inning� Holt worked around a single and a walk in the 1st inning, and another single by Tenbrink in the 2nd.� (Tenbrink had 3 hits in the game.)� The run in the 3rd scored when Holt walked LF JB Shuck (Astros), then made a throwing error on a pick-off attempt, allowing Shuck to advance to third base.� A sacrifice fly drove in Shuck to give Peoria a 1-0 lead.

The Solar Sox had only two base runners over the first five innings -- CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) singled in the 1st inning and stole second base, then RF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) singed in the 5th, but was thrown out trying to steal second.

C Tony Sanchez finally got the Solar Sox' bats going in the 6th, when he led off with a single bounced off the Peoria third baseman's glove and into left field.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) followed with a double into right, putting Sanchez on third base.� LF Josh Harrison's sacrifice fly drove in Sanchez, and Moore's sacrifice fly brought in Valdespin.� The Solar Sox had a 2-1 lead.

But the Solar Sox couldn't keep the momentum going.� Rizzotti singled in the 7th and Valdespin singled in the 8th, but neither could come around to score.

Aaron Pribanic relieved the starter Holt for the 4th inning.� Pribanic pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing only a walk in the 5th.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) also contributed 2 scoreless innings, giving up only a double to Tenbrink in the 7th.� Eric Niesen (Mets) pitched a scoreless 8th, though he had to work out of a jam that was not entirely his own fault.� He gave up a single, then had a runner reach on a fielding error by Mercer, then walked a batter, loading the bases with one out.� The next batter bounced right back to the mound, and Niesen flipped the ball back to Sanchez for the force out at the plate.� A fly out ended the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

Geltz was charged with the Blown Save, and Fish was charged with the loss.� Harrison went 0-for-3 with the sacrifice fly.� Mercer went 0-for-4, and Sanchez had the one hit and scored in 4 trips to the plate.

Mesa Solar Sox� 8,� Surprise Rafters� 7

It was a wild finish in Mesa this afternoon as the Solar Sox scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Surprise Rafters in Arizona Fall League play.� DH Jordy Mercer and RF Andrew Lambo each had� hits in the game, and they combined for 3 RBI.

Lambo got the Solar Sox going with a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning, bringing in 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) who had walked.� The Rafters responded with 5 runs in the top of the 3rd.� With Ryan Brasier (Angels) on the mound for the Solar Sox, the first four Rafters reached base on four straight hits -- a single, an RBI triple, and a pair of RBI doubles.� Brasier got a ground out, then was relieved by David Cales (Cubs).� Cales gave up a triple to the first batter he faced, driving in the fourth run of the inning.� A fielder's choice to third base was not fielded fast enough to catch the runner from third before he crossed the plate, and Surprise had taken a 5-2 lead.� Cales finally ended the inning with a double play.

Mesa tried to get caught up in the 4th.� With one out, Rizzotti grounded a single up the middle, and Mercer followed with a double lined into center field.� That moved Rizzotti to third base.� Lambo bounced to third and this time the fielder's choice play worked -- Rizzotti was out at the plate.� Both te Rafters and the Solar Sox put two runners on base in the 5th, with a double and a walk for the Rafters and 2B Ryan Flaherty's (Cubs) single and SS Andrew Romine's (Angels) walk for the Sox.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) walked in the 7th, but was erased in a double play.

LF Josh Harrison, in the outfield today, started the rally that tied the game in the 8th inning.� He led off with a double into left field, then went to third base when Romine reached on fielding error at shortstop.� Brandon Wood (Angels) and Rizzotti both singled, driving in Harrison and Romine.� Mercer grounded to second base for a force out, and it might have been a double play, but Mercer was safe at first and the tying run, Wood, scored.� Lambo also singled, moving Mercer up to second base, but the inning ended with the score still tied.

The Solar Sox pitchers were also holding the Rafters scoreless.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) took over for Cales and threw 2 scoreless innings, with one hit and one walk.� Tyson Brummett (Phillies) added two more scoreless frames with one hit.� Robert Fish (Angels) pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th, with three ground outs to the shortstop Romine.� Steven Geltz (Angels) allowed only a single in two innings (the 9th and the 10th), and C Kai Gronauer (Mets) obligingly threw that base runner out trying to steal second base.

With the score still tied, the Solar Sox went down in order in the bottom of the 9th.� Mercer singled in the bottom of the 10th, but did not score.� Eric Niesen (Mets) took over for Geltz to begin the top of the 11th, and he got into trouble, aided by two errors.� With one out, Niesen hit RF Joey Butler (Rangers) with a pitch.� The next batter, SS Pete Kozma (Cardinals) grounded to second base, where Ryan Flaherty first made a fielding error then a throwing error, leaving runners on second and third.� A singled drove in Butler, and another unsuccessful fielder's choice play let Kozma score.� A double play got Niesen out of the inning, but the Rafters led 7-5.

The Solar Sox were not done, though.� Nieuwenhuis tried to bunt for a hit, but his first attempt went foul, and he was hit with the second pitch.� Gronauer walked, then Flaherty was able to drop down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third.� Grounauer was replaced by pinch-runner Jordany Valdespin (Mets).� Harrison popped out for the second out of the inning. Romine walked to load the bases.� Then Brandon Wood was the hero of the game with a bases-clearing double lined into center field.� Romine raced around from first base to score the winning run on the walk-off double.

None of the Pirates' pitching prospects got into this game.

Mesa Solar Sox� 11,� Surprise Rafters� 6

The Mesa Solar Sox busted out with 9 runs in the 4th inning and posted a total of 19 hits in their Arizona Fall League win this afternoon.� SS Jordy Mercer, C Tony Sanchez, and 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) had 3 hits each, and 2B Josh Harrison and RF Andrew Lambo contributed a hit apiece.

Each team scored one run in the 1st inning.� Mesa's LF/CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) singled and stole second base, then scored on 1B Matt Rizzotti's (Phillies) RBI single.� Tony Sanchez also singled in the inning, but was left on base.� The Rafters scored on a single, a wild pitch by starter Josh Zeid (Phillies) and an RBI single.

Things were quiet for the next two innings, other than a single by Vitters in the top of the 3rd.� The quiet ended in the top of the 4th, when 14 Solar Sox came to the plate.� Tony Sanchez started the fun with a single to second.� A fielding error by the Surprise first baseman allowed Andrew Lambo to reach first base.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled, scoring both Sanchez and Lambo with the first two runs of the inning (1,2).� Jordy Mercer's double plated Nieuwenhuis (3), and Mercer advanced to third on a ground out.� After a line out and a change in pitchers, Moore and Vitters both doubled, driving in Mercer and Moore (4, 5).� Rizzotti walked, then Sanchez singled for the second time in the inning, to score Vitters (6).� A throwing error by the left fielder let Sanchez advance to second base and Rizzotti to third base.� Three more singles followed -- Lambo's brought in both Rizzotti and Sanchez (7, 8), Nieuwenhuis' moved Lambo to second base, and Mercer's scored Lambo (9).� A ground out finally ended the inning.

Zeid pitched 3 innings and allowed the one run in the 1st inning on two hits, and he struck out 3 batters.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) took over for Zied to begin the 4th.� He gave up a run on two doubles.� He also gave up three singles in the bottom of the 5th, bringing in one run.� A wild pitch and two walks loaded the bases.� Rosenberg was relieved by Aaron Pribanic, who threw a wild pitch to the first batter he faced, allowing another run to score.� Pribanic finished the inning with a strikeout, and the Solar Sox still led 10-4.� Pribanic came back out for the 6th inning, and another run scored on a single and a throwing error.

The Solar Sox continued to put runners on base.� Harrison and Vitters both singled in the 5th, but did not come around to score.� LF Ryan Flaherty (Cubs), who had entered the game as a defensive replacement, and Harrison both walked and Valdespin singled to load the bases in the 6th, but all three were left on base when Moore struck out.� Rizzotti also walked in the 7th, but was left on base.� He also singled in the 9th, but was eliminated in a double play.� The Solar Sox added one last run when Flaherty doubled to open the 8th inning.� He moved up to third base on a wild pitch.� Jordy Mercer drove him in with an RBI single, to increase the lead to 11 - 5.

Aaron Pribanic worked around a single in the 7th inning, but kept him from scoring.� Brian Leach came on to pitch the 8th, and he also worked around a single for a scoreless inning.� Surprise managed one last run in the bottom of the 9th.� With Eddie McKiernan (Angels) on the mound, a walk, a double, and a sacrifice fly drove in the run.� It was not nearly enough, though, and Mesa and Josh Zeid had the win.

Mesa Solar Sox� 8,� Phoenix Desert Dogs� 3

The Arizona Fall League kicked off today with a win for the Solar Sox.� The Pirates' farmhands hit well, but had a few problems on defense.

LF Andrew Lambo got the Solar Sox going in the 2nd inning when he lined a 2-out single into center field.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) drove in Lambo with a double into center field, to give Mesa a 1-0 lead.� Then the Solar Sox busted out with 5 runs in the 4th inning, as they sent 11 batters to the plate.� 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) greeted a new Phoenix pitcher with a single into left field.� Both C Tony Sanchez and Andrew Lambo added their own singles, and Lambo's scored Rizzotti.� Sanchez went to third and Lambo to second on the throw in to the plate.� A wild pitch let Sanchez score from third base and put Lambo on third.� Nieuwenhuis drove in Lambo with a single, and SS Jordy Mercer also singled, putting runners on the corners.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) grounded to short, but the only play was at first, so Nieuwenhuis scored and Mercer was safe at second.� DH Josh Harrison struck out -- only the second out of the inning.� 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) singled, plating Mercer.� Two more walks, to RF Jeremy Moore (Angels) and Rizzotti, loaded the bases, but Sanchez struck out to end the inning.

Bradley Holt (Mets) made the start for the Solar Sox.� He pitched 3 scoreless innings, allowing only one walk in the 1st inning and one single in the 3rd.� Solar Sox' RF John Mayberry (Phillies) injured his leg on that play -- possibly making a dive for the soft liner?� He had to leave the game, and was replaced by Jeremy Moore.

Tyson Brummett (Phillies) relieved Holt to begin the 4th inning, and he got two strikeouts, then gave up a single and a 2-run homer to RF Michael Taylor (A's).� Brummett gave up another run in the 5th, on a single, a stolen base, a passed ball by Tony Sanchez, and another single.� A fielding error by 3B Brandon Wood put a second runner on base, but Brummett was able to get out of the jam with a grounder to short, fielded by Mercer.� The Solar Sox still held the lead, 6-3.

Nick Carr (Mets) pitched two scoreless innings for the Sox.� He gave up only one hit, a single to Taylor in the 6th.� After a grounder force out at second, a throwing error by Mercer put a runner on second, but the runner was left on base.� Robert Fish (Angels) and Steven Geltz (Angels) each pitched a scoreless inning to wrap up the game for the Solar Sox, but the Sox bats were not done yet.

In the top of the 8th, Nieuwenhuis led off with a walk, and a single by Valdespin put runners on the corners.� Harrison lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in Nieuwenhuis for a 7-3 lead.� Jeremy Moore added the Solar Sox' final run in the top of the 9th with a solo home run.

Holt earned the win for Mesa.� Harrison went 0-for-4 with one RBI.� Sanchez was 1-for-5, and Mercer went 1-for-4.� Lambo led the Pirates' farmhands with a 2-for-5 afternoon and one RBI.� Brandon Wood had 3 hits for Mesa in the game.� Mercer had two throwing errors, and Sanchez had the passed ball.

The remainder of the Pirates' contingent for the Arizona Fall League was announced today.� Pitching for the Mesa Solar Sox this fall will be Justin Wilson, Aaron Pribanic, and Brian Leach. While all three have been starters during the regular season, it appears that Wilson will have a starting role, and Pribanic and Leach will be mostly used in relief.

The pitchers will join catcher Tony Sanchez, infielders Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer, and outfielder Andrew Lambo on the Solar Sox.

The AFL season begins in three weeks, on Tuesday October 12th, and runs through Thursday November 18th.� We'll be following our Pirates' farmhands in their Arizona adventures.

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The Carribbean winter leagues will also be starting up in October:� Mexican Pacific League on Oct 12th, Dominican League on Oct. 22nd, Venezuelan League on Oct 12th, and Puerto Rican League on Oct 22nd.� We'll also watch the Pirates' players, farmhands, and friends in those leagues.

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Pirates' John Bowker made another start for the Pirates tonight (Tuesday), this time in right field.� He went 0-for-4 with an RBI, driving in a run in the 1st inning with a grounder to short, which was misplayed for an error.� Bowker has gone 4-for-10 in his last three games, with a homer, and 3 RBI.

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Altoona Curve� 5,� Trenton Thunder� 2 ...����� (box)

The Altoona Curve clinched the Eastern League Championship tonight, defeating the Trenton Thunder in Game 4 of the championship series in Trenton.� Starter Tony Watson, who was also the winning pitcher a week ago when the Curve won the divisional series, earned the win again tonight.� Closer Daniel Moskos (photo, while with the Indy Indians), earned his 5th save of the playoffs.� He had a save in each of the Curve's three wins in the championship series, and also in two of their three wins in the divisional series.� The offensive star of the game was DH Jim Negrych, who went 3-for-5 and led the way with 3 RBI.

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Watson pitched 6 innings and struck out 10 Thunder batters.� He gave up 2 runs on only 5 hits and 2 walks.� The Thunder began the bottom of the 1st with a single off the bat of CF Austin Krum, who also stole second base.� After two strikeouts, Watson walked C Austin Romine, but then struck out the next batter, leaving the two runners on base.

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Watson gave up two hits and a run in the 3rd.� 2B Matthew Cusick led off with a triple into right field.� Two outs later, he scored on RF Daniel Brewer's line drive single into right field, and the Thunder had a 1-0 lead.

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The Curve had put one runner on base in the 1st, when 3B Josh Harrison reached base on an error, then stole second base.� In the 2nd, Negrych hit a 2-out single up the middle, then CF Jose De Los Santos walked, but all three of them were left on base.� When the Thunder made another fielding error in the 4th, the Curve were able to capitalize.� 1B Matt Hague led off with a walk, then a fielding error by the Thunder first baseman put LF Andrew Lambo on first and Hague on third.� That brought up the offensive hero, Jim Negrych (photo, with the Indy Indians).� Negrych slapped a grounder into left field for a 2-RBI single, bringing in both Hague and Lambo to give the Curve a 2-1 lead.

The Curve rallied again, with help from Negrych, in the 5th.� Harrison led off with a line drive into center field, and he moved to second base on SS Jordy Mercer's ground out.� Hague lifted a single into right field, and Harrison raced around from second.� When the throw in from the outfield ticked off the catcher Romine's glove, Harrison scored and Hague advanced to second base.� Hague moved up to third base on Lambo's ground out.� The Thunder intentionally walked C Hector Gimenez, and Negrych again came to the plate with a runner in scoring position.� Negrych lined into left field, with the Trenton LF Damon Sublett giving chase.� Sublett went for the sliding catch -- and missed.� As the ball went on behind Sublett, Negrych was safely into second base with a double, and Hague scored, giving the Curve a 4-1 lead.

Altoona Curve� 5,� Trenton Thunder� 0 ...������ (box)

The Curve took advantage of the unexpected day off yesterday, and came back to action ready to roll.� Three Curve pitchers combined to shut out the Thunder in Trenton, as the Curve took a 2-games-to-one lead in the 5-game Eastern League Championship Series.

Justin Wilson made the start for the Curve, pitching 7 innings and allowing only 5 hits and a walk, with 3 strikeouts.� Wilson had to work around at least one runner on base in every inning but one, as he scattered the hits and the walk, and also had a batter reach third base on a fielding error by Anthony Norman in right field.� The Thunder put two runners on base in the 3rd inning, when Wilson got two outs, then gave up a single and a walk.� That was the closest the Thunder came to hurting Wilson, though, and he calmly got a fly out to end the inning.� Wilson was also able to take advantage of timely double plays to erase base runners in the 6th and 7th innings.� He earned his second post-season win, and increased his total of post-season scoreless innings to 13.

LF Andrew Lambo was the first to provide Wilson with some run support, when he blasted a solo home run, rising over the left-center field wall in the 2nd inning.

The Curve batters were quiet for the next two innings, until DH Jim Negrych walked to start a two-out rally in the 5th.� A passed ball put Negrych on second base, and CF Jose De Los Santos singled to second base, moving Negrych to third.�� Norman slipped a grounder just out of the reach of the Trenton second baseman, scoring Negrych.� 2B Chase d'Arnaud was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.� That gave 3B Josh Harrison the opportunity to drive another single into right field, bringing in both De Los Santos and Norman, and the Curve had a 4-0 lead.

Altoona Curve� 6,� Trenton Thunder�� 4 .....���� (box)

The Altoona Curve tied up the Eastern League Championship Series at 1 game each, beating the Trenton Thunder tonight at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, PA.

The Thunder out-hit the Curve 9-5, but three of the Curve's hits were home runs, and they were able to take advantage of mistakes by the Thunder.� 3B Josh Harrison got the Curve started with his no-doubt-about it solo home run in the bottom of the 1st.� The Thunder tied the game in the top of the 3rd on two doubles off starter Jeff Locke.

Then the Curve took a big step forward in the bottom of the 3rd, as they capitalized on throwing problems by Trenton pitcher Dellin Betances.� RF Miles Durham led off with a walk, then stole second base.� CF Anthony Norman also walked, as Betances was having trouble finding the strike zone.� 2B Chase d'Arnaud dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but Betances' throw to first base sailed down the right field line, and Durham raced around from second base to score the go-ahead run.� With Norman on third and d'Arnaud on second, Betances got Harrison to ground out, and the runners held.� Then Betances fired in a wild pitch high over his catcher's head, and Norman scored from third.� SS Jordy Mercer made the wild pitch less of an issue when he blasted a 2-run home run (it would have been a 3-run homer and Norman would have scored anyway), and the Curve toook a 5-1 lead.

Locke went on to pitch a total of 7 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 walks.� He gave up a lone single in the 1st and again in the 6th, and those two doubles in the 4th.� He struck out the side in the 4th, on his way to a total of 8 strikeouts.� Locke gave up an unearned run in the 5th inning.� With two outs, a fielding error by Mercer put a runner on base, then back-to-back singles brought him around to score.� Locke loaded the bases with a walk, then got a ground out, again to Mercer, to end the inning.

Derek Hankins relieved Locke to begin the 8th inning.� He was greeted by back-to-back homers by Trenton's RF Daniel Brewer and C Austin Romine.� Brewer's long fly left the field well over LF Andrew Lambo's head;� Romine's bounced on the very top of the right-center field wall, hit the wall behind the fence, then bounced back onto the field -- still counts as a home run.� Hankins struck out the two batters he faced after the homers, then walked the next two.� That was all for him, with Daniel Moskos coming in from the bullpen.� Moskos finished the inning with a strikeout, but the Thunder had moved within one run, 5-4.

Trenton Thunder� 3,� Altoona Curve� 2 ...���� (box)

Curve starter Rudy Owens faced off against National's phenom pitcher Stephen Strasbourg at the beginning of the season, and held his own.� Now he winds down the season by facing off against New York Yankees' rehabbing star Andy Pettitte -- and again, Owens held his own.� Owens and Pettitte each pitched 5 innings in tonight's first game of the Eastern League Championship Series, held in Altoona.� Owens gave up 2 runs; Pettitte gave up 2 runs.� Owens gave up 7 hits and 3 walks; Pettitte gave up 6 hits and 2 walks, and he also threw a wild pitch.� Owens struck out 7; Pettitte struck out 4.

2B Chase d'Arnaud faced Pettitte three times and must not have been very impressed.� He put the first run of the game onto the scoreboard when he led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a solo home run off Pettitte.� In the 3rd inning, d'Arnaud worked a walk, and in the 5th, he singled off Pettitte.

The Curve took d'Arnaud's home run lead into the 3rd inning.� Rudy Owens gave up a walk and a single in the 2nd, but induced a double play to end the inning.� In the 3rd, he gave up three singles, including the RBI single that slipped past first base and down the right field line to tie the score at 1-1.

The Curve came right back in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 2-1 lead.� With one out, DH Yung Chi Chen lined a single into right field.� Pettitte's wild pitch put Chen on second base, and when d'Arnaud walked, ball four got past the Trenton catcher for a passed ball, allowing Chen to advance to third base.� 3B Josh Harrison grounded just out of reach of the Trenton shortstop and into left field for the single that scored Chen.

Owens retired the side in order again in the 4th.� Then he gave up two doubles in the top of the 5th, and Trenton had tied up the game again, at 2-2.

The Curve threatened in the bottom of the 5th.� Chen reached base on a fielding error by the Trenton third baseman.� Back-to-back singles by d'Arnaud and Harrison -- a line drive into right field by d'Arnaud and a bunt single by Harrison -- loaded the bases for Altoona.� But Pettitte got SS Jordy Mercer to bounce back to the mound, where he fired the ball back to the catcher, forcing out Chen at the plate, then on to first base to complete the double play.� A strikeout ended the inning.

Altoona Curve� 10,� Harrisburg Senators� 5 ...���� (box)

The Curve doubled up the Senators tonight, winning their second game of the series in the Senators' home park.� That gave Altoona a 3-1 game win of the season, advancing them to the championship round of the Eastern League playoffs.

Five home runs by the Curve kept the runs coming, as the Curve totalled 12 hits.� CF Andrew Lambo and LF Jim Negrych had 3 hits each, and Lambo and RF Miles Durham contributed 3 RBI each.� 2B Chase d'Arnaud homered for the second game in a row, and Lambo, Durham, SS Jordy Mercer, and C Hector Gimenez also had home runs.

After a quiet first inning, the Curve got things going in the top of the 2nd, with a walk to Lambo,� a single by Negrych, and Durham's 3-run home run.� The Senators came right back in the bottom of the inning.� The first batter of the inning reached on a fielding error by SS Mercer, then C Jhonatan Solano hit a 2-run homer to put the score at 3-2.

The Curve responded with two 2-run home runs in the top of the 3rd.� With one out, 3B Josh Harrison walked, and Mercer homered.� Then Hague walked and Lambo homered.� They added another run in the 4th, on a walk by d'Arnaud, a singled up the middle by Mercer, and an RBI line drive single into left field by Lambo.� Curve up, 8-2.

Starter Tony Watson continued his solid performance after the Senators' home run in the 2nd.� He worked around a single in the 3rd and another single in the 4th.� He retired the side in order in the 5th.� The 6th inning began with a lead-off home run by 1B Chris Marrero.� Watson retired the next three batters, plus the first two in the 7th, before giving up a walk.� At that point, he gave way to Craig Hansen, who threw a wild pitch, but finished the inning with a ground out.� Watson had allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks, with 4 strikeouts in his 6.2 innings of work.

Hector Gimenez kept the Curve humming with a solo home run in the 7th inning, and Chase d'Arnaud added his solo blast in the 8th.