Around the Curve | Big Tuna of the Week - July 30 - August 4
As we flip the page on the calendar to August, teams are preparing for the final home stretch of the season. Altoona won four of six games last week against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, and it’s time to look back at what players rose above the rest and earned the
As we flip the page on the calendar to August, teams are preparing for the final home stretch of the season. Altoona won four of six games last week against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, and it’s time to look back at what players rose above the rest and earned the honors of Big Tuna of the Week.
For Altoona last week, we saw Slammin’ Sammy Siani and the ace himself Bubba Chandler do more than just their fair share towards the Curve’s winning efforts. Let's look back at what they did to deserve the honor of being our next recipients of Big Tuna of the Week.
It seemed inevitable that Siani would earn this award. In this series, he recorded a base hit in all five games he appeared in. The Pennsylvania native hit .474 (9-for-19) in his five games, including two doubles, a triple, and 5 RBI. The stretch included multi-hit games in each of his last four appearances.
Sammy Siani gets us back on the board as we take an eighth inning lead! pic.twitter.com/YtGI9jpv8h
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 4, 2024
From the pitching perspective, Chandler has morphed into one of Double-A's most dominating and intimidating pitchers since returning from the injured list on May 29. Chandler has walked just eight batters in 55.2 IP with 64 strikeouts, recording a 5-4 record with a 2.75 ERA (17 ER / 55.2 IP) with a 0.81 WHIP. This week, he tossed seven innings to earn the win in his lone start, allowing just one run on seven strikeouts.
Bubba is so back! Two strikeouts in the first inning for @Bubbachandler_ pic.twitter.com/zUZvAUCg17
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 2, 2024
Other notable performances included Tres Gonzalez (.400, four RBIs, six hits) Yoyner Fajardo ( .389, three RBIs, two triples, seven hits) Jase Bowen ( .333, two RBIs, six hits, one HR) Nick Cimillo (.333, six hits, one home run, six RBI) and Cy Nielson (4.0 IP, 0 ER, eight strikeouts).
The Altoona Curve takes its longest bus run of the year this week as they set off to Portland to face the Red Sox Double-A Affiliate the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday, August 6th at 6 p.m. Stay tuned all season long for more exciting content on the Around the Curve Blog!