Pribanic Leads Curve in Shutout Victory Against Reading
August 12, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Aaron Pribanic hurled seven scoreless innings while Matt Curry and Quincy Latimore accounted for all of Altoona's offense in a 7-0 series-opening win over the Reading Phillies on Friday night at Blair County Ballpark. Pribanic (8-9) combined with Michael Dubee on the team's ninth shutout of the year and has now pitched 14 scoreless innings against Reading in his last two starts.
Both pitchers traded zeroes in the first and second innings before Curry broke Altoona on to the scoreboard in the third. Starling Marte led off the inning with a single and after a walk to Josh Rodriguez and a stolen base by Marte, Curry drove in the first of four with a sac fly to place Altoona in front, 1-0.
The one run could have held up for Pribanic on Friday night as he faced the minimum through three. All told, Pribanic finished seven innings and allowed just four hits while walking and striking out one.
Latimore widened the gap to 2-0 in the fifth when he doubled home Andrew Lambo for the first of his three RBI on the evening. Curry provided Pribanic and the Curve some more breathing room in the sixth when he capped a two-out rally by clearing the bases with a double to left-center that brought home Greg Picart, Marte and Rodriguez to make it 5-0 Altoona.
It was Latimore again in the eighth as his two-out double scored Marte and Rodriguez to open the game up at 7-0. Altoona hit very well with two outs on Friday night as six of their seven runs in the game were scored with two away. Curry finished the game 1-for-4 with the 4 RBI, while Latimore went 3-for-5 and drove in three.
Yunesky Sanchez continued his hot hitting at home as he also contributed three hits in Altoona's win on Friday night. The shutout victory is the ninth of the season for the Curve and their second in their last four games.
Winners of 11 of its last 16 games, Altoona (53-64) will meet Reading (59-59) for the second game of the three-game series at 7 p.m. on a "Let's Go Bucs" Saturday night at BCB presented by Keller Engineers. The gates to Blair County Ballpark will swing open early at a special time of 4 p.m. so that fans can enjoy the nationally televised Pirates-Brewers on the giant video board and concourse TVs. In addition to being able to watch the Pirates' game, fans will enjoy a rare opportunity to watch the Curve take batting practice.
In honor of the players that have gone from Altoona to Pittsburgh, the first 1,000 fans into the park on Saturday will receive a special Curve Alumni Poster Giveaway thanks to Keller Engineers. The poster features the comic-style likenesses of 12 Pirates' players who have played in Altoona. Continuing the Black and Gold connection, Grant Jackson, the winning pitcher for the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series, will greet fans and sign autographs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Then, the 2011 Curve players and coaching staff will be available to sign autographs from 5:40 to 6:20 p.m. The Pirates' Pierogies will also be joining the fun as they make their first-ever appearance at Blair County Ballpark.
To cap off an already jam-packed Saturday night at BCB, Da Hippest Nerd in Da' Biz Myron Noodleman will be at Blair County Ballpark to entertain all in attendance.
On the hill, RHP Phil Irwin (5-3, 4.31) will search for his organizational-best 11th win of the season as he pitches in the second game. Reading counters with RHP Tyson Brummett (3-6, 4.04) on Saturday night.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information on upcoming events in Curve, Pa., call 877.99.CURVE, visit www.AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at BCB.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from August 12, 2011
- Rock Cats Roll Past Baysox - Bowie Baysox
- Big Innings Dooms B-Mets in Series Opener, 6-2 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Pribanic Leads Curve in Shutout Victory Against Reading - Altoona Curve
- Erie Pitching Haunts Sea Dogs' Offense - Portland Sea Dogs
- Bryce Harper Hits Walk-Off 2-Run Hr, Sens Beat Trenton 3-2 - Harrisburg Senators
- Four-Run Second Does in Aeros - Akron RubberDucks
- Tanner Takes Third Straight Victory for Richmond - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Big Third Carries Squirrels Past B-Mets, 6-2 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Gagnier Fans 10 as 'Wolves Down Sea Dogs - Erie SeaWolves
- McDade Has Three Hits and Fisher Cats Beat Aeros 7-1 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Baysox Juggle Players - Bowie Baysox
- Erie SeaWolves at Portland Sea Dogs...Game One of Three...Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Akron Aeros Announce 2012 Schedule - Akron RubberDucks
- Gluttony Night Returns on Tuesday, August 16 - Reading Fightin Phils
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
