MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Behind a solid effort from flu-ridden starter Jay Rainville, the Rock Cats outlasted the Altoona Curve, 3-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 7,167 at New Britain Stadium Wednesday morning in the middle game of a three-game set.

Battling symptoms that have made their way through the home clubhouse, Rainville let up a lone run in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out three and walking two to notch the victory -- his third in 12 2009 starts.

With the win, the Rock Cats climbed to 31-27. The Curve sunk further in the EL North cellar, their record now at 19-40.

Altoona struck first, grabbing their only run in the third inning. Jim Negrych laced an RBI double into the right field corner for Rainville's only blemish.

New Britain answered in the bottom of the fourth when top catching prospect Wilson Ramos, occupying the cleanup spot and serving as the team's designated hitter for the day, hammered a 2-0 offering from Altoona starter Dan Moskos over the centerfield wall to knot the score at one apiece.

The Rock Cats took the lead later in the frame as Toby Gardenhire sent a bloop single to center to plate third baseman Danny Valencia.

21-year-old righthander Alex Burnett supplanted Rainville and was stellar in relief. Making just his third appearance in a Rock Cats uniform since a June 3 call-up from Single-A Fort Myers, Burnett turned in 2 1/3 scoreless innings and fanned three Altoona hitters.

New Britain's Anthony Slama tossed a perfect ninth to pick up his 13th save, good for second-best in the Eastern League.

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