EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Don't Monkey Around in Win over 'Cats

Published on June 19, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


CURVE, Pa. - Jeff Karstens led the way with seven innings of one-run ball while the bats stayed hot with eight runs on 13 hits in the Curve's, 8-1 win over the Rock Cats in the series opener in front of 4,462 at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Tuesday night. Karstens (1-0), who was on a rehab assignment with the Curve, gave up one run on six hits with five strikeouts in his seven innings of work.

The MLB rehabber piloted the Curve through the first three innings unscathed before the bats came to life with a three-run third inning. Stefan Welch and Evan Chambers connected for back-to-back singles to start the inning and were moved up 90 feet by a sac bunt from leadoff man Robbie Grossman. Brock Holt followed with the second of his two doubles to clear the bases and place the Curve out in front, 2-0. Jarek Cunningham doubled behind Holt to drive in the Curve's shortstop for the inning's third run, which wound up being more than enough for Karstens and the Curve pitching staff.

Despite not needing any more runs, the Curve offense provided Karstens with some more with another three-spot in the fifth inning thanks to some timely hitting and a 'Cats defensive miscue. Grossman led off the inning with a hit, moved to second on a groundout by Holt and then to third on a passed ball. Cunningham delivered again with a sac fly to make it, 4-0.

Miles Durham continued the inning with a two-out double and then Ramon Cabrera reached on a fielding error by James Beresford to keep the inning alive. Quincy Latimore made the error more costly by tripling to the base of the wall in center to clear the bases and spring the Curve to a 6-0 lead.

Karstens allowed his only run of the game with two down in the seventh after a walk and a double. Phil Irwin pitched the final two innings of the game and didn't allow a hit while striking out three.

Holt finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI while Grossman, Cunningham and Welch had two-hit nights. For Welch, his two hits came in his first two at bats of the evening and that followed hits in his final three at bats on Sunday at Binghamton. All told, Welch had hits in five straight at bats that included a home run and four singles. He also drove in three runs across his five straight at bats with a hit.

Winners of two straight, the Curve (32-36) will look to make it three in a row on Wednesday night when they take on New Britain (35-33) beginning at 7 p.m. from Peoples Natural Gas Field. Wednesday night will be jam packed with fun and excitement starting with a postgame fireworks display to follow the game. It's also the final What If Wednesday of the season with What If Mascots Were Movie Stars Night presented by theprinters.com. The Curve mascots will perform skits and digital shorts from some of your favorite films throughout the game on a follow up to last season's Mascot Movie Night.

The first 1,000 fans through the gates on Wednesday will also get one of four Mascot Movie Poster parodies thanks to theprinters.com to go along with the theme of the night. It'll also be Tyrone Community Night on a WALY 4-Pack Wednesday where fans can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four regular sodas for $35 thanks to WALY 103.9.

On the mound, highly-touted Pirates pitching prospect Gerrit Cole will make his Double-A debut for the Curve as he gets the starting nod in the second game of the series. He'll be opposed by New Britain's RHP Brett Jacobson (0-1, 5.34) as they'll look to even the series.

Gates for the game will 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 tickets and more information on the current Curve 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 June 19, 2012


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