Curve blanked by Baysox despite Bolton's gem

BOWIE, Md. - Cody Bolton pitched six shutout innings for the Altoona Curve but the Bowie Baysox pushed one run across after he departed to take the series opener at Prince George's Stadium, 1-0, on Thursday.

The Baysox (51-44, 21-6) were held to three hits, all doubles. Ryan McKenna greeted Joel Cesar (Loss, 2-3) pitch in relief for the Curve (50-43, 15-11) with a two-bagger into the left field corner and scored two hitters later on the game's lone run-scoring play, a double down the left field line by Carlos Pèrez. Cesar walked Yusniel Díaz but he ran himself into an out on the double by Perez when he rounded third base too far and was caught in a rundown. Cesar went on to retire his final five hitters.
Botlon's six-inning effort was the longest of his four Double-A starts and the first time he navigated through a half-dozen since May 30 for A-Adv. Bradenton. He retired his first seven hitters before Ryan Ripken doubled to right-center and T.J. Nichting worked a walk. Bolton's last 11 hitters went down in order which started with his lone strikeout of the game to Mason McCoy. Bolton pitched well to contact, inducing an even split of eight outs in the air and eight more on the ground.
Dean Kremer (Win, 6-4) matched Bolton inning-for-inning and sent the game scoreless into the seventh inning stretch. Kremer, pitching on the one-year anniversary of his acquisition by Baltimore in the Manny Machado trade, whiffed eight Curve hitters to work around six singles and one walk.
Jay Flaa (Save, 1) locked down the final six outs for Bowie with six strikeouts.
The Curve totaled seven hits and had three runners reach second base, two with one out, and could not come through with the clutch hit.
Jared Oliva and Mitchell Tolman each went 2-for-4 to lead the offense.
The shutout defeat was the ninth of the year for the Curve, who played in their sixth 1-0 game of the campaign. It was the first 1-0 final score at Prince George's Stadium since June 23, 2013 when the Baysox edged out Altoona by the same score.
The Curve will be in Altoona for a week when they return on Monday to play the Erie SeaWolves and Richmond Flying Squirrels in a pair of four-game series. Promotional highlights include three firework displays, two giveaways and two appearances for the Allegheny Yinzers. For tickets or more information about upcoming promotions, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.
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