The Altoona Curve visit Bowie for a three-game series Tuesday, May 27 to Thursday, May 29.
Tuesday, May 27 7:05 p.m. Altoona Curve RHP Brad Bergesen(2.59 PERA) vs. RHP Josh Hill (4.32)
Wednesday, May 28 7:05 p.m. Altoona Curve RHP David Hernandez (3.74) vs. Kyle Bloom (5.72) – unconfirmed
Thursday, May 29 7:05 p.m. Altoona Curve RHP Jason Berken (3.64) vs. Derek Hankins (5.15) – unconfirmed
The Baysox snapped a streak of 15-straight home wins on Monday when they fell to the New Hampshire Fishercats 6 to 5. The Curve lost 21 of their last 27 games and are in last place in the Eastern League Southern Division.
Curve hitters are last in the EL in runs per game (3.15), OPS (.659), doubles (57), and walks (135). However, first baseman Jason Delaney (.308 EqA) has been a bright spot.
Jason Delaney (altoonacurve.com)
The Pirates drafted Delaney in the 12th round of the 2005 draft out of Boston College. He struggled in the New York-Penn League in 2005, but since has consistently delivered an OPS in the mid to high .800s.
Delaney has cooled off from a hot April when he had a .901 OPS, but he’s still third in the EL in walks (30) and OBP (.416). If there’s one knock on Delaney, it’s his lack of power for a first baseman. However that may not be a factor this week, as all of his four home runs this year were hit on the road and against right-handers.
Curve second baseman Melvin Dorta is also happy he won’t face a lefty starter during this series. This year, Dorta’s OPS against lefties is .211 (40 AB) and 1.096 (83 AB) against righties.
