EL1 Altoona Curve

Errors Bite Curve in Loss to Squirrels

Published on May 18, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


RICHMOND, Va. - A pair of errors led to three unearned runs that eventually sank the Curve in a, 5-3, loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Saturday night at The Diamond. Jeff Karstens made his scheduled rehab start with the Curve and gave up two unearned runs in four innings while striking out four.

Altoona was able to get out of the gate with a pair of runs before Karstens even took the mound on Saturday night. Adalberto Santos worked a two-out walk from Squirrels starter Chris Gloor (2-1) and stood at first with Andrew Lambo coming to the plate. Lambo turned on a Gloor offering and blasted it to right field for his eighth homer of the year and just like that the Curve led, 2-0.

Karstens came out for his first inning and retired Jarrett Parker to start his outing. Joe Panik followed with a fly ball to right that was dropped by right fielder Alex Dickerson to allow Panik to reach second base. Karstens recovered to get Javier Herrera but Mark Minicozzi drove in the first of his three runs on the night with a single to center to put Richmond on the board.

Things then got a bit rocky for Karstens as the next two batters reached to load up the bases with two out. Karstens battled with Ehire Adrianza but lost him to a walk that walked-in Minicozzi from third to tie the game at two.

After throwing 30 pitches in the first, Karstens settled in to now allow a hit in his final three innings of work. That set the stage for Gift Ngoepe in the fifth when he hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left, to put the Curve back in front, 3-2.

Ethan Hollingsworth (1-3) came in to relieve Karstens and tossed a scoreless fifth before another error and an unearned run came back to bite the Curve. Adrianza laid down a bunt with two outs in the sixth and was able to reach second base due to a throwing error from catcher Carlos Paulino. Ryan Lollis made the error sting when he singled into left to score Adrianza to tie the game at three before he was thrown out at second trying to stretch his hit into a double.

Richmond took the lead for good in the seventh when Minicozzi struck again with two outs, this time singling in Parker and Herrera to give the Squirrels their first lead of the series, 5-3.

Altoona couldn't mount a viable threat the rest of the way as they were marred with a pair of double play balls that were turned by the Squirrels.

Dickerson did have three hits in the game, his first three-hit game of the season, while Paulino extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 2-for-3 day.

Looking for a win in the series finale, the Curve (19-23) will send RHP Jameson Taillon (2-4, 2.82) to the mound in the 2:05 p.m. contest on Sunday afternoon. He is scheduled to be opposed by Squirrels LHP Jack Snodgrass (3-0, 2.60), who is scheduled to return from the disabled list.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is slated for 1:35 p.m. For tickets and information on the Curve's Memorial Day Weekend homestand that begins Friday, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from May 18, 2013


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.

OurSports Central