EL1 Altoona Curve

Cumpton Sharp in 1-0 Loss to Squirrels

Published on April 14, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


RICHMOND, Va. - Brandon Cumpton tossed a seven-inning gem on Saturday night but the Curve offense fell silent in a, 1-0, shutout loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond. Cumpton (0-2) gave up just one run on four hits in his seven innings with the biggest hit of the four being a home run by Johnny Monell that ended up being the only run scored in the contest.

Altoona wasn't without its chances to score in the ballgame, actually having an opportunity to jump on the scoreboard first in the second inning after Tony Sanchez led off the inning with a double. Matt Curry grounded out to the right side to move him to third with just one out but the next two men in the lineup were unable to bring Sanchez home and the game remained scoreless.

The Curve had a prime opportunity to tie it in the eighth after Cumpton induced a ground-ball double play off the bat of Juan Perez to end the seventh. It was one of 11 ground ball outs that Cumpton recorded on the night and one of three double plays he induced. He walked just one while striking out four.

Kelson Brown led off the eighth with a single and moved to second when Anthony Norman pinch-hit for Cumpton, ending his night, and put down a successful sacrifice. Robbie Grossman followed the sacrifice with his second walk of the game to place two on with one down for Brock Holt, who singled sharply into right field to load the bases.

Squirrels manager Dave Machemer popped out of the dugout for the second time in the inning to make a pitching change, this time going to the veteran Daryl Maday to face Jarek Cunningham. Maday got Cunningham to ground into an inning-ending double play and Richmond's lead remained.

The Curve still had a chance to tie it in the ninth when Sanchez led off the inning with a single. Elevys Gonzalez pinch ran for Sanchez at first but was cut down on the force out at second off the bat of Curry. Adalberto Santos drew the one-out walk to advance Curry to second but neither Quincy Latimore nor pinch hitter Ramon Cabrera could deliver the hit to bring him home.

All told, the Curve were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded a total of eight on the bases. Holt, Sanchez and Brown all had two hits apiece in the loss on Saturday night.

Altoona (4-4) will now look for a series split as they'll play the finale against Richmond (5-5) on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at The Diamond. RHP Aaron Pribanic (0-1, 2.70) takes to the slab for the Curve in the finale and will look to carry over his success against the Squirrels from 2011 when he went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts against them. The Squirrels will counter with RHP Justin Fitzgerald (0-1, 5.59) in the closing game of the series.

Airtime for the finale on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. For tickets and more information on the upcoming Curve homestand that begins April 19th, 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 April 14, 2012


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