Shortridge Strong in Curve Offensive Eruption
July 7, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - Aaron Shortridge worked through Erie' slugger-filled lineup with a season-long 7.0 inning performance as Altoona's offense exploded for a season-high 17 hits to secure an 8-7 victory on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Shortridge stumbled out of the gate in the first inning for Altoona, allowing a lead-off double to Trei Cruz and an RBI-single to Justice Bigbie to fall behind 1-0 two batters into the game. While he would allow two runs on three hits in the first inning, Shortridge would go on to face the minimum and only allow one hit for the next six innings. He struck out five batters to earn the win, improving his record to 5-5.
The Curve's offense would string together 17 hits against Erie's limping pitching staff, a new season-high which included six doubles and a triple. Matt Gorski's RBI-streak continued with an RBI-single in the sixth inning, marking his fifth-consecutive game with an RBI, a season-long streak for a Curve batter. INF Jackson Glenn would also have a productive night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an automatic double in the first inning, two singles and an RBI.
Altoona scored two runs in the first inning on back-to-back RBI-singles from Matt Fraizer and Jacob Gonzalez. Both players continued to impact the game later, with Gonzalez adding an RBI-double to score Fraizer in the third and Fraizer finishing with three hits, two stolen bases, a walk, and two runs scored.
The Curve recorded a hit in every inning and had eight of nine players reach base with a hit in the win. Tsung-Che Cheng knocked an RBI-triple in the seventh inning to score Fraizer, and later scored on a Claudio Finol RBI-double, his second double of the game. The Curve put up five runs on 11 hits off Erie's starter Brant Hurter. Chavez Young and Lolo Sanchez each had two hits as well in the win.
RHP Cameron Junker would come in for relief in the top of the eighth inning. He would pitch one complete inning, allowing three runs on four-consecutive two-out singles. LHP Braeden Ogle threw the ninth inning, allowing two runs on two walks and no hits, earning his second save of the season.
Altoona continues their six game homestand with the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, with a Slammin' 70s themed Saturday Night 6:00 PM start. Altoona will send LHP Omar Cruz to face SeaWolves LHP pitcher Lael Lockhart.
The Curve is proud to celebrate 25 years of memories in Curve, PA throughout the 2023 season. 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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