Kittens Claw Curve in Friday Night Defeat
April 7, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Altoona drew eight walks and recorded five hits on Friday night, but the Curve could only scratch two runs across as they stranded 14 runners on base in a 7-2 loss to New Hampshire at PNG Field.
The Curve (0-2) went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning, but stranded runners in each of the remaining eight innings on the night, leaving the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth. It brings the total number of runners left on base to 26 for the Curve across the first two games of the season.
Altoona's pitching staff punched 10 batters for the second night in a row after striking out 11 last night. Justin Meis (L, 0-1) made his Double-A debut in the loss, allowing three runs with one earned in 3.0 innings. He struck out three batters and walked just one.
New Hampshire (2-0) scored a run in the second on a Miguel Hiraldo RBI-double off the wall in center field. They followed with two in the third after Leo Jimenez scored on a wild pitch and Damiano Palmegiani knocked an RBI-single.
Travis MacGregor made his first appearance of the season and allowed two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings. His two runs came on a two-RBI Zach Britton single in the fourth. Noe Toribio allowed two runs in 1.2 innings despite not allowing a hit in his 2023 debut. He walked the final two batters he faced in the seventh, with both runners scoring against Juan Minaya, who allowed two hits in 2.0 innings in his Pirates organizational debut.
Josh Palacios and Andres Alvarez each recorded multi-hit games, accounting for four of the five Curve hits in the contest. Alvarez reached base four times in the loss, while Mason Martin matched his career-high in the game with three walks, finishing 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.
In the eighth inning, Lolo Sanchez drew a bases-loaded walk to score an unearned run against Andrew Bash. Altoona added a second unearned run in the ninth when Liover Peguero scored Palacios on an error by Leo Jimenez. New Hampshire committed three errors in the contest.
Paxton Schultz struck out five and walked three in the start for New Hampshire, allowing two hits in 4.0 innings. Nick Fraze earned the win, tossing two scoreless innings.
The Curve and Fisher Cats finish their three-game series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Pirates No. 11 prospect RHP Jared Jones will make his Double-A debut on the mound for the Curve, with LHP Jimmy Robbins on the mound for New Hampshire.
Saturday is Easter at the Ballpark, with a special Easter Bunny Appearance and fans leaving the ballpark with candy, courtesy of Blair Candy.
The Curve are proud to celebrate our 25th Anniversary season in 2023. For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.
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