EL1 Altoona Curve

Big Innings Hurt Curve in Opener Against R-Phils

Published on August 19, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


READING, Pa. - In a game that was only 1-0 through four, the Reading Phillies had innings of five and four runs in the late stages to top the Altoona Curve by the score of 11-1 on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa.

The R-Phils got on the board first in the second inning as Curve starter Phil Irwin hit Matt Rizzotti with a pitch before Derrick Mitchell doubled down the line in left. On the play, Rizzotti was thrown out trying to score, but Mitchell reached third where he was driven in on an RBI groundout by the next hitter, Tuffy Gosewisch.

The Phillies extended their lead in the fifth inning off Irwin as Gosewisch led the inning off with an opposite field home run to extend the advantage to 2-0. The next batter, Paco Figueroa singled before he was bunted to second base. After another single to put runners at the corners, Steve Singleton doubled in two and Carlos Rivero singled in one more to take a 5-0 lead.

Irwin would end up going one more inning as he went six, allowing five runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. On in relief, Duke Welker struggled in his third outing for the Curve. Michael Spidale led the seventh inning off with one of his three infield singles on the night, followed by five more hits in a row to score five in the inning and balloon the lead to 10-1. The R-Phils added one more in the eighth off Noah Krol to finish with 11 runs on 16 hits.

The lone Curve run came in the sixth inning as Starling Marte, who ended with two of the Curve's three hits, reached on a bunt single, stole second, got to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Holt. Austin Hyatt started for the Phillies and earned his league-leading 11th win as he went six innings and allowed one unearned run. Mike Cisco, despite the final score, earned his third save of the season in relief as he went the final three innings of the game.

The loss for the Curve is their first to start a series in their last seven series. The Curve will need to win the final two games of the three-game series to continue their streak of eight straight series without a loss.

Game two of the three-game series is set for 6:35 p.m. on Saturday. For the Curve, RHP Matt McSwain (2-0, 3.98) will start for Altoona while Reading has yet to name a starter. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa. with pregame coverage on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network will begin at 6:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from August 19, 2011


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