Trending
Altoona Curve shortstop Andres Alvarez helped slugged the Curve to a 16-0 victory over the Hartford Yard Goats Thursday night in front of 3,571 fans.
The 16-0 shutout was the largest shutout in team history and Alvarez was the leading force with six RBIs on the night courtesy of a two-run home run in the fifth inning and then a grand slam in the eighth.
It's not been a great start to the season for Alvarez as even with his solid night, his average sits at .197 on the season, but despite that he's been able to overcome a lack of success to produce like he did on Thursday.
"I probably had the worst month of my life as a baseball player this past month," Alvarez said. "I've been battling through it and just going up there and looking for a good pitch to hit in that situation and get out of my mind. To hit the ball like that, it's the best feeling."
Alvarez was far from the only factor against the Yard Goats as five Curve hitters had multiple hits and the entire lineup scored at least one run.
First baseman Mason Martin homered and drove in four runs while third baseman Claudio Finol also joined the home run party with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
The performance at the plate was in large part due to patience, but also taking advantage of whatever came their way.
"Our group, the entire season, has done a really good job of controlling the strike zone." Curve manager Callix Crabbe said. "We've put together team at bats. So you knew at some point, it would flip in our favor if we continue to swing at good pitches in the strike zone and of course having a couple of homers is always fun."
Fantastic Finol
Between Greensboro and Altoona, Curve third baseman Claudio Finol has appeared in a total of nine games.
Thursday was Finol's finest thus far as he finished 2-for-4 on the night with a two-run homer in the fifth inning.
Finol's ability to turn the order over from the nine spot was a big reason Altoona was able to have the success they did offensively.
"He's the ultimate teammate," Crabbe said. "He shows up every day and doesn't get to play a whole lot, but he knows his role and when a person knows their role, and when they get the opportunity they're able to perform better because they're not going to try to do too much."
Magnificent Nicolas
It was a bounce back outing for Curve starter Kyle Nicolas who struggled in his start last week.
Nicolas went five shutout innings scattering only three hits while striking out six and walking two.
Liover's Triple
Liover Peguero is seeing and hitting the ball well of late and Thursday night was no different as he roped a triple into the right field corner.
Peguero was at third easily ahead of the throw, yet the ball skidded into foul territory setting up for one of the most graceful sprints home Peguero's ever had as he stumbled home.
"I was fried. I was going to haul hard around bases when I got to third my legs were numb," Peguero said. "I wasn't feeling them, but I saw the ball kind of get far away and I was like you know what I'm going to go, but then those last five steps getting into home plate I stumble, fall down and hit my but I was just trying to have a moment and score."
Next up
Tahnaj Thomas gets the ball for Altoona for Friday night's game as the Curve look to clinch a series win over the Yard Goats.
He's appeared in 13 games notching 2 saves and a 6.91 ERA. Friday's start will be his first of the season.