EL1 Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Game Informaton: June 15, 2014 vs. Reading

Published on June 15, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ABOUT YESTERDAY: Altoona got off to a quick start but were quieted as the game progressed and lost to the Reading Fightin Phils 5-2 Saturday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Andy Vasquez hit a solo blast to the opposite field in the bottom of the first inning and Alen Hanson drove home Jarek Cunningham in the third after the third baseman hit a leadoff triple. When Joan Montero exited the game after allowing just one run in four innings in his first start, Pat Ludwig made his Double-A debut but saw it spoiled by the Fightins. Ludwig surendered six hits over three innings with four of the six hits being doubles. Reading tied the game at four thanks to a two-run sixth and added an insur- ance run in the ninth. The Curve tallied just five hits in the game and didn't have a runners in scoring position after the third inning.

CURVE/FIGHTINS SERIES: Altoona wraps up the three-game series against the Fightins tonight at Peoples Natural Gas Field in the only series in Curve, Pa. this year. After today, these two teams will square off again at FirstEnergy Stadium from August 8-10. Last season, Altoona won only three of the ten games played against the Fightins and are 126-135 all-time against the Philadelphia Phillies Double-A affiliate. Despite trailing in the all-time series, Altoona holds the advantage at home with a 72-64 record.

FOR ALTOONA: LHP Joely Rodriguez will conclude the series for the Curve tonight against the Fightins. The 22-year- old is 3-5 this year with a 4.41 ERA in 12 starts. The southpaw is coming off a start where he surrendered a season- high ten hits in a loss against the Portland Sea Dogs five days ago. Rodriguez has gone six innings in each of his two starts this month and has only walked two batters. Rodriguez was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent in 2009 from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. For more on Rodriguez, see page two.

FOR READING: The Fightins will send RHP Perci Garner to the hill in the series finale. The native of Dover, Ohio is 4-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 13 starts with the Fightins. In his last start, he went only 3.1 innings and surrendered five runs (three earned) on five hits. Garner has shown control problems this season with 34 total walks which ranks third in the Eastern League. In his last start, he tied his season-high with six base on balls. Garner was drafted by Philadel- phia in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft from Ball State University.

BEAT ON THE BRAT WITH A BASEBALL BAT: Curve shortstop Alen Hanson has hit safely in every game he has played so far this month and holds a Curve season-high 11-game hitting streak. Hanson's 11-game streak includes his infield single on Wednesday against Portland. However, the stat is not official, but it will be once Wednesday's game is completed next weekend in Portland when the Curve are at Hadlock Field. Hanson is batting .271 this year with 36 RBI and an Eastern League-best seven triples. The 21-year-old holds a .342 batting average this month which doesn't include his base hit Wednesday.

BATS ARE AFRAID: The Curve pitching staff has done a nice job all season long of keeping the ball from leaving the ballpark. Entering play today, the Curve pitching staff has allowed 31 home runs in 558.2 innings so far this season.

That's second-fewest in the league only to Portland's 26. However, the staff allowed a home run on June 11 against Portland but because that game was suspended, the statistic will not be made final until the game is completed next Friday.

LONG-GONE: The Curve have had a home run in back-to-back games with Jarek Cunningham blasting one on Friday night and Andy Vasquez hitting one on Saturday against Reading. However, this month hasn't proved kind to the Curve power game. As a team this month, the Curve have only four homers through ten games. In May, Altoona had 32 blasts in 33 games played. In May, the Curve went 10-23 and are 5-5 this month.

LENGTHY BUSINESS TRIP: After tonight's game, the Curve will have an off day on Monday, then embark on a season-long ten game road trip. They will play a three-game series in New Hampshire beginning on Tuesday followed by four games plus a resumption of Wednesday's suspended game in Portland, and conclude the trip with a three- game set in New Britain before returning to Curve, Pa. on June 26.

PLAN FOR AT LEAST A DOUBLE: Altoona right fielder Willy Garcia has been an extra-base hit machine this season for the Curve. Of his 44 hits, the native of Santo Domingo has 24 extra base hits including 12 doubles, four triples, and eight home runs. At the pace Garcia is on, he's in the discussion for most extra base hits all-time in Curve his- tory. Adam Hyzdu belted 72 extra base hits in 2000 and is the franchise leader in extra base hits. Behind Hyzdu are Starling Marte (58, 2011), Alex Dickerson (56, 2013), and Tony Alvarez (53, 2002).

RED TAGGED: Altoona committed another error on Saturday and rank last in the Eastern League in fielding. The Curve have committed a league-high 78 errors, nine more than the Reading Fightin Phils, who have the second most. The Curve committed an error in the suspended game from June 11 and will have at least 79. Last year, Altoona was one of the most defensively sound teams with only 121 errors and a .977 fielding percentage, good for fourth in the league. The inaugural Curve team in 1999 was the worst defensive team in franchise history after they committed 194 errors.

SUNDAY'S NO FUNDAY: Altoona hasn't fared well in weekend games this season. As a team, the Curve is 5-18 in weekend games which features a 3-6 record on Sunday's. In weekday games, Altoona owns a 20-22 record.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE (LEADER)BOARD: The following Curve players rank among the league leaders entering today's game: Alen Hanson (7 3B, 1st), Willy Garcia and Keon Broxton (4 3B, T-3rd), and Adrian Sampson (2.07 ERA, 2nd | 1.08 WHIP, 2nd). A.J. Morris (1.64 ERA, 1st | 1.05 WHIP, 3rd | .208 BAA, 2nd) no longer plays for the Curve after his promo- tion to Triple-A big still qualifies among the league leaders.

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Eastern League Stories from June 15, 2014


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