From the Altoona Mirror newspaper
Right-handed pitcher John VanBenschoten is considered the top prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization.
He didn't do anything to taint his reputation Wednesday night.
VanBenschoten worked six solid innings to pick up his first 'Class AA' victory, and first baseman Brett Roneberg clubbed a two-run homer in the fourth inning, as the Altoona Curve carved out a 3-1 victory over New Britain before 4162 fans at New Britain Stadium.
Altoona broke out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Kevin Nicholson worked New Britain starter Henry Bonilla for a leadoff walk and one out later, Roneberg homered over the fence in centre field.
It was Roneberg's third homer of the year, and gave the Australian native his 28th and 29th RBI's of the season.

From the Altoona Curve home page
VANBENSCHOTEN NOTCHES FIRST DOUBLE-A WIN - CURVE DOWNS ROCK CATS 3-1
John VanBenschoten allowed just one unearned run in six innings of work to notch his first Double-A victory as the Curve defeated the New Britain Rock Cats 3-1 on Wednesday night at New Britain Stadium.
VanBenschoten allowed the unearned run on just three hits, walked one and fanned three in picking up the win in his fourth start since being called up to Altoona from Class-A Lynchburg on May 23rd.
Combined between the two levels this season, the right-hander is now 7-0 in 13 starts and has now gone 21 starts without a loss dating back to last July 7th, when he was pitching for low Class-A Hickory.
Neal McDade tossed two scoreless frames and Jeff Bennett pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the three-hitter.
Bennett, pitching in the finishing role after regular closer Todd Ozias pitched a lengthy ninth inning in Tuesday's contest, notched his first professional save.
Offensively, the Curve got the offense it would need in the fourth inning when Brett Roneberg blasted a two-run homer--his third of the season--off New Britain starter and losing pitcher Henry Bonilla.
The Curve added its third and final run in the fifth, when Kevin Nicholson lifted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Ray Navarrete from third.
New Britain's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth, when, with two outs, Rob Bowen singled home Brian Baron.
The run was scored unearned after VanBenschoten dropped the potential third out of the inning on a pop up in foul territory during Bowen's at bat.
Shaun Skrehot and Chris Heintz each added two hits in the Curve's nine-hit attack.
The victory improves the Curve's overall mark to 32-30 and its road record to a sparkling 20-15.
The loss drops New Britain, the Eastern League's worst team, to 24-35.

From the USA Today Minor League Baseball web site
Brett Roneberg hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning.

From the New Britain Rock Cats page
Altoona jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Kevin Nicholson drew a walk and Brett Roneberg followed with a homerun over the right field wall.

From the New Britain Herald newspaper
Three Curve hurlers pitched three-hit ball and a two-run homer by Brett Roneberg proved pivotal as the Rock Cats fell, 3-1, before a nice Wednesday crowd of 4,162 at New Britain Stadium.
Leadoff walks, which have haunted Rock Cats pitching all season, struck another blow in the Altoona fourth.
Kevin Nicholson received the free pass from Bonilla.
Two batters later, Roneberg roped his third homer of the year over the right-field wall.

Other reports from the internet
(1) Three pitchers combined on a three-hitter and Brett Roneberg hit a two-run homer to lead the Altoona Curve to a 3-1 win over the New Britain Rock Cats Wednesday in the Eastern League.
Starter John VanBenschoten (1-0) allowed three hits and an unearned run over six innings.
Neal McDade tossed two scoreless frames and Jeff Bennett pitched a perfect ninth to gain his first save.
Roneberg's homer, his third of the season, came with one out in the fourth off New Britain starter Henry Bonilla.

(2) Bonilla walked the leadoff batter in the fourth and one out later, Brett Roneberg homered to right.

(3) 1B Brett Roneberg socked a two-run homer in the fourth - his third longball of the season.

(4) 1B Brett Roneberg was 1 for 2 with a homer (No. 3) and two RBI.

A look at Brett's plate appearances
Playing first base - batting at #5
Had 4 plate appearances - 2 at bats - and a walk and a sacrifice-bunt
#1 - RHP - runners at first and second base/two down - called, and chopped the next pitch towards second base - out "4-to-3"
#2 - RHP - runner at first base/one down - ball/called and he "disagreed" with this call!!!/ball, and then "A BLAST OVER THE RIGHTFIELD BARRIER"!!! - "A TWO RUN SHOT"!!! - home run, 2 x RBI's, and 1 x run scored
#3 - RHP - ball/ball/ball/called, and then another ball - walk - out on a double-play hit by a following Curve hitter
#4 - LHP - the pitching change was made by the Rock Cats as Brett stepped to the plate - called, then a sacrifice bunt, which the commentator said was "a pretty good one up the first base line" - successfully moved the runner to second base

......and some interesting details on the game!!!
Error!!!
In the bottom of the seventh inning a Rock Cats batter drove a ball towards first base - and here is what the commentator said - "......it went through Roneberg's legs!!! - he had it covered but brought his glove up too early!!!" - the runner reached second base, and there were none down - but thanks to a great catch by Bonifay in leftfield followed by two ground outs, the runner did not score!!!
Fielding
During the bottom of the eighth inning, a Rock Cats batter hit a ball "sharply towards first base" - and Brett got this one!!! - and the commentator said that "Roneberg handled that nicely, and made a nice pick on a ball to his right, turning what looked to be a difficult play into a routine 3-to-1 out"!!!
Was there going to be a fight???
In the top of the eighth inning, the Curves Ray Navarrete was pulled up by the home plate umpire for having too much pine tar on his bat (it went too far up the handle) - had to change bats - he then had his at bat, in which he grounded out - but as he was running past first base, he had "a few words" with the Rock Cats pitching coach, who must have said something to him about this incident - according to the commentator, Navarrete had to be kept away from the pitching coach by Brett and the Curve Manager, Dale Sveum!!!

Email from Geoff
TOP SECRET EMAIL!!!
Tanya - not a word to "you know who"!!!
Going to tell her that he went 1 for 7 with a single!!!
9.35am Thursday morning.
"A two run blast over the rightfield barrier"!!!
CONGRATS, BRETT!!!
Hello Wife,
You are reading this - and I'm in bed asleep.
Yeh, I know - I am a damn liar!!!
Now you can enjoy looking at "My Pages"!!!
Bye, bye.
**Brett - double, home run, RBI's, etc.
Get bloody sick more often!!!

Email from Tanya
He he...don't you love your family, Mum?
Honestly I wanted to tell you but the damm red writing just looked too important!
Brett...keep drinking that tap water!
Bye

Email from Sharon
You are hopeless Tanya - how can red writing be too important!!
I have been telling people about a 17 innings game that was "fabulous" and "just marvelous" as Dad said on the phone today!
And as for you Geoff - you already know what I think of YOU!!
Always the last to know - Brett you will have to ring me at work and tell me the truth!!
I must admit I do like logging on and looking at all the finished stuff
but for the record that doesn't mean that it is OK to continually try to trick me - I am onto you now - I won't believe anything til I read it!
Love that Home Run!!
Love
Mum

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