The Double-A All-Star game is being played today and the timing couldn't be more perfect for the Altoona Curve.
Blair County Ballpark was a house of horrors for the Curve leading up to the break. The team went 2-5 in its final two series, series that came against two of the three teams that sit above the Curve in the Southern Division standings.
Third place Harrisburg softened up Altoona first, handing the Curve two losses in the three-game series. Then Reading came along and delivered what might eventually be viewed as the blow that made certain the Curve would not make the playoffs.
The Phillies rolled while in Altoona, taking three of four games and stretching their lead to nine-and-a-half games over the Curve for second place. Altoona hurt itself in each game, especially Saturday's when the team committed three errors and gave up seven unearned runs in an 8-4 loss.
Altoona also suffered from the absence of some key players. The Curve currently has five players on the disabled list: top Pirates prospect catcher J.R. House, catcher Brad King, left-handed starter Mike Gonzalez, reliever Larry Wimberly and All-Star outfielder Shawn Garrett.
Sunday they were also missing budding star Tony Alvarez. The center fielder was in Milwaukee to take part in the Major League Future Stars game. Garrett, one of the Curve's two Double-A All-Star selections (the other is closer Chris Spurling), is expected to play in the game on Wednesday.
All of the injuries and the recent under-par play make this three game All-Star break especially important for Altoona.
"Hopefully we can get on a role again and get everyone healthy," manager Dale Sveum said. "Hopefully these three days are going to benefit."
Multi-Talented GMs
Altoona did win something more than the single game it took from Reading.
Before Friday's game two participants from each team battled it out in a hitting challenge. The four people were Altoona general manager Todd Parnell, Reading GM Chuck Domino, Sveum and R-Phils hitting coach Rico Brogna.
The two ex-players and the executive duo were given 10 swings in a round and played three rounds total. They were awarded two points for a ground ball that made it to the outfield, five points for an outfield fly ball, 10 points for a warning track shot and 20 points for a homer.
Parnell and Sveum came out on top, narrowly defeating Domino and Brogna 195-194. The four will battle it out one more time this season in Reading. The contest is set to take place before the Aug. 15 game.
The competition came out of some friendly ribbing between friends. Parnell was an understudy to Domino in the early '90s when he was assistant general manager with the R-Phils.
"He is one of my best friends; he was in my wedding," Parnell said of Domino. "We have this thing where we both want to be the best and we think the other one is in the way."
The man who friends and fans call Parney left to take the general manager job for Single-A Kannapolis and this year is back in the Eastern League as Altoona's GM.
Parnell's return to the EL caused some good-natured trash talking between the two GMs. At the moment Parnell has the bragging rights after the fun-filled event.
"It was a lot of fun for not only Chuck and I but also Rico and Dale, too," Parnell said.
Fireworks bring in the crowd
State College wasn't the only place to see fireworks on the 4th. The Curve and Blair County Ballpark's neighbor, Lakemont Park, combined efforts in an after-game fireworks extravaganza.
"We had a lot of good things going on in the community to promote it," Parnell said. "We had a nice relationship with Lakemont Park, which of course is our neighbor and a good partner of ours. It just came together beautifully."
A record crowd of 8,139 came through the gates to take in the 10 p.m. show. The previous record was 8,060, recorded on September 3, 2001. It was the final game of the 2001 regular season.
The shells started firing after the Curve's 6:35 p.m. game with R-Phils, a 4-0 victory for Reading.
The game went fast, making sure that it would not interfere with the post-game festivities. Reading starter Ken Pumphrey pitched a five-hit shutout and helped the game to a brisk 2 hours, 9 minutes.
The fireworks gave the fans something to forget about the loss and added a unique element to the park.
"It was just a wonderful night and something we can build on and propel ourselves towards an attendance record for the rest of the year," Parnell said.
Who's Hot
Carlos Rivera: The first baseman added to his hot first half by finishing it with a six-game hitting streak. He now has 15 home runs and is 12-for-27 during his streak.
Kevin Sefcik: The one time Philadelphia Phillie had himself a five-game hitting streak entering the All-Star break. His best game during the streak was his 2-for-4 effort against his old club, Reading in which he had three RBI in the Altoona win.
J.J. Davis: The former first round pick is also on a five-game hitting streak. He jacked his sixth and seventh home runs of the season during those games.
Who's Not
Shaun Skrehot: Last season's Curve MVP is having a hard time getting on base of late. He is currently in a 3-for-30 slump and his batting average has dipped down to .235.
The Defense: The defense was part of the reason Altoona finished with a 2-5 record in its final seven games of the first half. The Curve commited a total of eight errors in those games.
