Altoona Curve Game Information: May 10, 2013
Published on May 10, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ABOUT LAST NIGHT..: The Curve offense pounded out nine runs on 15 hits to win a shootout with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 9-8, at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday night. It was a matter of who would score last as the Curve and Squirrels traded runs early on in the game. Richmond went ahead with a two-spot in the top of the eighth only to be countered by the Curve's own two-spot in the bottom of the inning. Jarek Cunningham batted with the bases loaded in the last of the eighth and crushed a ball to left that narrowly missed being a grand slam by inches as it hit off the top of the double-high wall in left field. It ended up as a long single but it scored Alex Dickerson from third to tie the game at eight.
Adalberto Santos followed with an RBI fielder's choice aided by a good slide at second base by Cunningham that helped Santos beat out the back end of a double play. That scored Andrew Lambo from third and the Curve had the lead and an eventual win. Jason Townsend (1-1) earned the victory in his first game since being activated off the disabled list. Lambo, Santos and Mel Rojas, Jr. all had three hits in the victory. Curve starter Stolmy Pimentel did not factor into the decision on Thursday, giving up a season-high six runs on six hits in 4.1 innings.
CURVE/SQUIRRELS SERIES: This is the second of three trips that the Flying Squirrels will make to Curve, Pa and, unlike in past seasons, they all will be before the end of May. Last time Richmond was in Curve, Pa., Altoona won its first series of the season with a pair of wins on Wednesday, April 17 after the game on Tuesday night was sus- pended.
FOR ALTOONA: California native David Bromberg will make the start for the Curve in the second game of the four- game series as the Curve look to win three straight games for the first time in 2013. He's been the tough-luck loser in each of his last two starts, giving up three and two runs, respectively. It's been a problem of run support for Brom- berg, who has received just one run in the three games that he has started in 2013. His first start of the year came versus Richmond on April 15 and he allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. His three bullpen appear- ances came as a result of the trio of rehab starts from Charlie Morton and Francisco Liriano. For more on Bromberg, see page two.
FOR RICHMOND: RHP Craig Westcott makes his first start versus the Curve this season and his seventh start of the year overall. The road has been a tough place for Westcott this season as the Louisiana native has permitted 10 runs (nine earned) on 15 hits in seven innings of work for an ERA of 11.57 in two starts away from The Diamond. Home has been a completely different story, where he's 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA in four starts. In his most recent start, which came at home, Westcott gave up three runs on five hits to the Trenton Thunder in a losing effort. He's pitched against the Curve before with two starts here at Peoples Natural Gas Field in 2010 (0-1) and two in 2012 (1-0). He's allowed three or more runs in all but one of his starts vs. the Curve in Altoona.
WALK THIS WAY: Pirates second baseman Neil Walker was added to the Altoona Curve roster on Thursday and was 1-for-4 with a double in his last at bat while playing six innings. He's scheduled to play for the Curve again on Friday night while he comes back from stitches in his right hand after trying to break up a double play on April 26 vs. St. Louis. Walker was bating .253 with one home run and eight RBI in 23 games for Pittsburgh before sustaining the injury. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native last played here on March 30 as a part of the Pirates-Curve Exhibition game. He last played on the Curve on August 16, 2007 and his last home game in a Curve uniform was August 5, 2007.
HITTING THEIR STRIDE?: The Curve offense has a combined 27 hits over their two most recent wins over Harrisburg and Richmond. That hit total is more than the first five games of the road trip combined when the team had 25 hits.
HE EATS HIS WHEATIES: OF/1B Andrew Lambo had a three-hit day on Thursday night while driving in another run to extend his team lead (he's now at 24 total). He's homered in four of his last six games and has driven in at least one run in five of his last six contests. The Newbury Park, Calif. native has reached base safely in all but three of his 33 games this season and leads the team in home runs, RBI, hits and is second on the team in walks.
D-D-D-DEFENSE: The Curve enter today's game with a .978 fielding percentage and currently lead the league in that category. Altoona has committed 28 errors in 34 games, which is best in the league. TAKING AWAY THE RUNNING GAME: Catcher Carlos Paulino has been a force to be reckoned with behind the plate this season, throwing out 43.8 percent (14-of-32) of base stealers in 2013 entering play today. That's third-best in the circuit behind Portland's Christian Vazquez, who has thrown out 46.9 percent of base stealers, and Trenton's J.R. Murphy (46.7%).
OH BOY ADALBERTO: Third baseman Adalberto Santos had three hits in the Curve win on Thursday night to run his consecutive games on-base streak to 19 games, which is two shy of Andrew Lambo's 21-game streak that currently leads the team. Both players got out of the gate hot with both of the streaks starting at the beginning of the season. The longest active streak in the Eastern League is currently held by Bowie's Xavier Avery, who has reached base in 21 straight dating back to April 13. The longest overall streak this year was accomplished by Trenton's Kyle Roller (25 games).
CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: The Curve hit their 25th and 26th home runs of the season on Wednesday morning/afternoon to help down the Har- risburg Senators. After being held homer-less for the first time since their last home game on May 2nd, the Curve are now tied for first place in the league in terms of home runs with New Hampshire (26).
Eastern League Stories from May 10, 2013
- Reading and Akron Suspended After Seven Innings - Reading Fightin Phils
- Wild Finish Preserves 3-2 Win - Trenton Thunder
- Late Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Baysox Blast Away Losing Streak - Chesapeake Baysox
- Early Offense Boosts B-Mets to 8-4 Win - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Rock Cats Split Double Header with Portland - New Britain Rock Cats
- Aeros 3 Phils 3--Game Suspended - Akron RubberDucks
- Sea Dogs and Rock Cats split twinbill - Portland Sea Dogs
- Curve and Flying Squirrels Postponed Friday - Altoona Curve
- Squirrels and Curve Postponed on Friday - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Altoona Curve Game Information: May 10, 2013 - Altoona Curve
- Erie SeaWolves at Bowie Baysox - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- B-Mets Game Notes: Game #36 Binghamton Mets (17-17) vs. Harrisburg Senators (16-18) - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Rock Cats Have Player Transaction Today - New Britain Rock Cats
- Sea Dogs Game Notes May 10 at New Britain (Doubleheader) - Portland Sea Dogs
- Bowie Baysox Announce Player Move - Chesapeake Baysox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
