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Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Game Information: June 24, 2013

June 24, 2013 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ABOUT YESTERDAY..: Justin Howard wrecked Eddie Gamboa's no-hitter on Sunday afternoon by ripping a single back through the middle that deflected off the starter Gamboa's front leg for an infield single. It, however, was the only hit on the day that the Curve were able to muster in a, 1-0, loss to the Baysox at Prince George's Stadium. The loss sent the Curve to a third straight defeat and a series sweep at the hands of Bowie, who they do not see again until mid-July. Starter David Bromberg (3-7) was hit with the loss, allowing one run in 5.2 innings. The right hander struggled with his command, walking a season-high six batters, which matched his career high. It was the eighth time this season that the Curve were held without a run, which is tied for most shutouts in the Eastern League this season.

CURVE/ROCK CATS SERIES: New Britain comes into Curve, Pa. and brings an extra game to play with them after the two teams were only able to play for just one day (two games) a few weeks back in New Britain. This will be the final time these two teams meet in 2013.

FOR ALTOONA: Taking the mound in Game 1 for the Curve on Monday night will be LHP Eliecer Navarro, who is making his second Double-A start since being promoted from High-A Bradenton early last week. In his debut on Wednesday versus New Hampshire, Navarro lasted six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) for his eighth qual- ity start of the season before leaving with the game tied up at two apiece. The Curve would later go on to win the game, 5-2, as they rattled off seven-straight wins. Prior to his time in Altoona, Navarro was 1-9 with the Bradenton Marauders but had a solid 2.86 ERA in 13 games (11 starts). For more on Navarro, see page two.

On the mound in Game 2 for the Curve will be RHP Ethan Hollingsworth, who gets the spot starting call for the third time this season and the first time since June 9. In his last spot start, Hollingsworth was pitching on two days rest and retired the first nine batters he faced en route to five innings of one-run ball. He left in line for a win that night versus Binghamton before the B-Mets scored four runs off the bullpen in an eventual, 5-2, loss. This month, Hol- lingsworth is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in five games (one start). For more on Hollingsworth, see page three.

FOR NEW BRITAIN: Starting for the 'Cats in the first game of tonight's twinbill is LHP Pat Dean, who started and lost two starts ago when he took on the Curve in Game 1 of a doubleheader back on June 12. In that start, Dean al- lowed five runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work. The Connecticut native is on a personal three-start losing streak and hasn't won since May 30 when he took down Richmond at The Diamond. On the road this season, Dean is 2-4 with a 4.85 ERA in eight previous starts with opponents hitting .288 off him. Iowa-native B.J. Hermsen gets the starting call for Jeff Smith is the second game tonight and will be making his first start since May 24 when he lasted just three innings and allowed three runs (two earned). Until this season, Hermsen had been a starter for most of his MiLB career, never making more than two relief appearances in a season (2010 with Elizabethton). Last season with New Britain, Hermsen was 11-6 and boasted a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts while whiffing 75 batters in 139.2 innings. In his seven starts this season, Hermsen was 1-5 with a 4.81 ERA. As a reliever, however, he was 0-0 with a 7.04 ERA in five games.

HE'S ON FIRE: Adalberto Santos went 0-for-3 in the finale with the Baysox on Sunday but is still scorching hot in the month of June. Through 16 games this month, Santos is batting .351 (20-for-57) with five doubles, two homers, nine RBI and nine walks to pace the team. It's more of a return to form for Santos, who batted an uncharacteristic .200 (19-for-95) in 28 games during May. That month was the first time that he'd had a monthly average below the .300 line in his time since joining the Curve on 2012 Opening Day roster.

SO CAL DEBUTS: 2011-12 Curve catcher Tony Sanchez and 2011-12 Curve reliever Duke Welker both made their Major League debuts on Sunday afternoon in the Pirates win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Sanchez ripped a double in his first big league at bat while Welker worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout. They are the 106th and 107th players to make their MLB debuts after playing in Curve, Pa.

ROSTER MOVES: Outfielder Mel Rojas, Jr. has been placed on the Altoona Curve disabled list (retroactive to June 21) with a left oblique injury. To take his place on the roster, Oscar Tejeda has been assigned to Altoona from Triple- A Indianapolis. Rojas, Jr. was hitting .262 in 65 games for the Curve but had turned things up with the bat since the middle of May. In June, Rojas, Jr. was batting .311 (19-for-61) in 15 games.

JOLTIN JAREK CUNNINGHAM: Second baseman Jarek Cunningham drove in two runs in the series with the Baysox over the weekend to keep a steady month of June going. He's batting an even .300 this month (15-for-50) with five homers and 11 RBI. The 14 home runs by Cunningham are one shy of his career-high of 15, which was set during the 2011 season with High-A Bra- denton in just 80 games. The 14 home runs are second-most in the circuit heading into action tonight behind Jim Murphy of Reading's 15.

THE RETURN OF THE KING: Curve skipper Carlos Garcia rejoined the Curve today after taking the weekend to attend his son's graduation. The team was 0-3 in his absence.

TELL ME WHEN TO GO: Gift Ngoepe stole his 10th bag of the season in the loss to Bowie on Sunday afternoon. As a team, Altoona has stolen 72 bases so far this season which is the third most in the Eastern League trail- ing only Portland (82) and Binghamton (82).

NO JUNE SWOON: Altoona had their eight-game winning streak abruptly snapped in Bowie with a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baysox. The Curve are now 12-6 in the month of June, which is the winningest month of the season, surpassing April's 11 victories. In the month of June, Altoona has posted its best team batting average thus far for any month, batting .269 through the first 18 games. The club hit .231 in April (25 games) and .230 in May (30 games).

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