EL1 Altoona Curve

Asche, R-Phils Halt Curve Win Streak at Six

Published on July 25, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


READING, Pa. - R-Phils third baseman Cody Asche homered twice and drove in four to lead Reading past Altoona, 6-1, on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The win ends the Curve's six-game win streak and sends the team back to a game below the .500 mark at 51-52.

Starter Gerrit Cole (2-4) had an easy first inning but ran into trouble in the second with two down when he walked Leandro Castro. R-Phils shortstop Troy Hanzawa followed with a single to right-center that got under the glove of Quincy Latimore, who was playing centerfield, and that allowed Castro to try and score. Latimore retrieved the ball and fired it back toward the infield where Matt Curry was there to receive and relay towards home.

Curry's relay throw got past catcher Ramon Cabrera as Castro slid home and Hanzawa ended up at third due to the two errors on the play. Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone (9-7) singled inside the bag at third to bring Hanzawa home and Reading led, 2-0.

Both runs were unearned to Cole, who got a run of support in the very next frame when Brock Holt singled home Drew Maggi to cut the deficit to one. Cole then settled in through the third and fourth, retiring eight in a row before a one-out walk of his mound opponent Pettibone in the fifth. Jiwan James smashed a single back through the middle of the infield to put two on for Asche, who hit the first of his two homers on the night to place Reading up, 5-1.

Altoona couldn't get much going all night against Pettibone, who tied a season-high with seven innings pitched. The Yorba Linda, Calif. native gave up just three Curve hits and the one run while striking out six batters en route to his ninth win of the season. The Curve bats were held silent by Jordan Whatcott and Jay Johnson over the final two innings.

The six runs allowed in the game is the most the Curve pitching staff has allowed since giving up 10 runs to Richmond back on July 17. In the eight games prior to tonight, no opposing team had scored more than three runs.

Holt finished the day with two of the Curve's three hits while Adalberto Santos had the other.

Altoona (51-52) now makes its way back home to Curve, Pa. to take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA - Blue Jays) beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. with a meet and greet with two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain, who was the last Major League pitcher to win 30+ games in one season. The 1968 American League MVP won 31 games during the 1968 season as a member of the World Champion Detroit Tigers. He'll be on hand at the ballpark to sign autographs and also have copies of his new book for sale. His appearance comes on another Thirsty Thursday TM thanks to Rocky 104.9 with $2 16oz. Miller Lite drafts on special along with half-priced 22oz. regular sodas.

Streaking starter RHP Phil Irwin (2-7,3.43), who has thrown back-to-back complete games of eight and seven innings, respectively, takes the bump in the series opener for Altoona while the 'Cats send Yohan Pino (5-5, 3.96) to the rubber to oppose Irwin.

Gates for the lid-lifter swing open at 6 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For more information and a complete rundown of the upcoming events this homestand, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

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Eastern League Stories from July 25, 2012


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