EL's Top Pitcher Shows His Stuff as Curve Shut Down Aeros
Published on April 29, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Akron, OH - Altoona Curve righthander Stolmy Pimentel is in his third season pitching in the Eastern League, but his first as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. If he keeps pitching the way he did Monday night, his time in Altoona might soon be a memory.
Pimentel (2-0) dealt seven innings of shutout baseball against the Akron Aeros Monday night, lowering his league-leading ERA to 0.30, and picking up a 2-0 victory in the opener of a four-game series at People's Natural Gas Field.
Acquired in a December trade from Boston for righthander Joel Hanrahan, Pimentel has been sensational for the Curve (11-13). He has given up exactly one earned run in 30 1/3 innings in five starts. On Monday against Akron, he scattered six hits, walked one and struck out five.
It was the first shutout loss of the year for the Aeros (10-14). Now 2-2 on the current seven-game road trip, the Aeros saw their offense regress after it had scored seven runs apiece the last two days.
The Aeros wasted a terrific outing by starter Brett Brach (1-2), who was pressed into the starting rotation due to the promotion of scheduled starter Toru Murata to Triple-A. Making his first start after five relief appearances, Brach allowed just two hits and one unearned run over six innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
The Curve tallied an unearned run in the first inning when Andy Vasquez led off with a single. The next hitter, Mel Rojas, Jr., laid down a sacrifice bunt back to Brach, but the throw to first was dropped by Jose Ramirez who was covering first. Vasquez moved around to third on the play. Matt Curry followed with an infield hit to make it 1-0.
After that, Brach retired nine in a row, hit a batter, then retired nine more in order to finish his outing. He threw 68 pitches, 49 for strikes. It was his second straight impressive outing at Altoona. He also tossed seven shutout innings at P.N.G. Field last August 28th ina 3-1 Aeros victory.
The Curve added an insurance run in the eighth when Alex Dickerson homered to right field off reliever Austin Adams.
Akron's best opportunity came in the top of the eighth when it loaded the bases with one out against Curve reliever Jeff Inman on three straight singles. Inman, though, wrecked the rally by inducing a bouncer back to mound off Jesus Aguilar for a 1-2-3 double play. Inman followed up by closing out the ninth for his second save.
Jose Ramirez did his part for Akron, collecting three single and walking once. He stole his league-leading 12th base of the season, but was also caught trying to steal third in the first inning.
The Aeros (10-14) and Curve will play game two of the series on Tuesday night at 6:30. LHP Mike Rayl will make his first start and appearance for the Aeros, while RHP David Bromberg (0-2, 7.20) will get the starting nod for the Curve. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1350 AM, and online at www.sportsradio1350.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at 330-253-5151.
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