EL1 Altoona Curve

Cardiac Curve Hang On For 3-2 Win At Reading

Published on July 2, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


READING, Pa - The Altoona Curve were able to survive a late inning rally and with the tying run at third and one out, Ramon Aguero was able to button down a 3-2 Curve win over the Reading Phillies (AA - Philadelphia Phillies) on Friday night at First Energy Stadium.

Behind a strong outing from lefty starter Rudy Owens who hurled six solid frames allowing just one run on five hits and striking out eight, the Curve were able to muster three runs off of R-Phils starter Yohan Flande to win their third straight game and improve their industry best record to 52-28.

Altoona belted three doubles in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. After Matt Hague led off the inning with the first of the two-base hits before Hector Gimenez traded places with him with an RBI double of his own to plate Altoona's first run. Gimenez then scored on a two-bagger from Miles Durham.

The Curve would get to Flande again in the top of the sixth when Gimenez led off the inning with a solo home run, his 12th of the season, which ties a career-high that he set in 2005 while a member of the Corpus Christi Hooks in the Houston Astros organization.

On the mound for Altoona, the ninth inning scare was not the only one that Reading hitters posed on Friday. In the bottom of the sixth, the R-Phils had three straight hitters reach with the third being on an RBI single from Michael Spidale that drove in Quinton Berry for Reading's first run. With runners at first and second with no one out, Owens would then strike out the side after a visit from Curve pitching coach Tom Filer. Owens tossed 6.0 innings allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out eight batters and walked two.

After Owens departed, Mike Dubee survived a scare in the eighth with the R-Phils putting themselves in a situation with first and second and no one out. Dubee struck out two batters consecutively before Cody Overbeck grounded in to a fielder's choice to end the threat.

In the ninth with Aguero on the mound, a one-out double by Reading's Ozzie Chavez and a base hit by Rich Thompson set up a first-and-third scenario. Thompson stole second taking away the double play possibility. A wild pitch uncorked by Aguero scored Chavez from third and moved Thompson, the tying run, 90 feet away with just one out. Aguero would then strike out the leadoff hitter Berry and enduce a pop up in foul ground to catcher Gimenez when facing Tuffy Gosewisch to end the threat and the game.

The Altoona Curve and Reading Phillies (37-42) will continue their four-game series with game three being played Saturday at 6:35 p.m. Altoona will give the ball to RHP Bryan Morris (4-2, 3.35) while Reading will send right righty Drew Naylor (6-6, 3.94) to the mound. Airtime on flagship radio station ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and Altoona Curve Radio Network affiliates begins at 6:05 p.m.

Check out the Altoona Curve Statistics

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



Eastern League Stories from July 2, 2010


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