EL1 Altoona Curve

Not the Wright Time: Curve's Bid for .500 Record Falls Short

Published on July 13, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


AKRON, Ohio - Steven Wright no-hit the Curve through the first six innings and the offense never recovered in a, 3-0, shutout loss in the second game of the four-game series on Friday night from Canal Park. Adalberto Santos, who reached base three times, broke up Wright's no-hit bid with a single to lead off the seventh. Robbie Grossman walked to start the game for the Curve and by doing so ran his on-base streak to 25 games.

Curve starter Kyle McPherson (1-4) matched Wright (7-6) through the first two innings before allowing a run in the third on one-out double by Aeros centerfielder Tyler Holt. Akron wasted no time in adding two more runs off McPherson in the fourth as Thomas Neal homered to start the inning while catcher Roberto Perez stroked a sac fly to right to bring home Juan Diaz to make it a 3-0 game.

McPherson settled down after the fourth and pitched on to complete six innings, turning in his first quality start of the season. The Mobile, Ala. native struck out a season-best tying seven while walking just one in his fifth start of the season.

Altoona was unable to crack the knuckleballer mystery that was Wright early on as he battled the knuckler to five walks in his 6+ innings of work. Despite the five free baserunners, Altoona couldn't find a key hit off the former second-round pick out of the University of Hawaii. All three of the Curve hits on the night came from the seventh inning on.

Santos along with All-Stars Brock Holt and Ramon Cabrera were the only three Curve players to register a hit on Friday. Nathan Baker relieved McPherson and pitched two scoreless innings out of the pen while striking out three.

With the blanking on Friday, Altoona has now been shutout nine times in 2012.

With the series knotted at one game apiece, the Curve (44-46) will turn to Futures Game participant Gerrit Cole (2-1, 4.63) to help lead them to a victory over Akron (53-39) in the third game of the series beginning at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night. Heading to the hill for the Aeros will be RHP Brett Brach (3-4, 4.69), who will make his 13th start of the season and his second of the year against Altoona.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. For tickets and more information on the upcoming Curve homestand beginning Thursday, July 19, 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 July 13, 2012


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