EL1 Altoona Curve

Yo Adrian: Sampson Grabs E.L. Pitcher of the Week Award

Published on July 21, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


PORTLAND, Maine - Altoona Curve righty Adrian Sampson has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 14-20, the league office announced today. Sampson, who was named an Eastern League All-Star earlier this month, came within two outs of the first solo no-hitter in Curve franchise history on Friday night in an eventual one-hit shutout.

In the start on Friday night, Sampson allowed a baserunner in the first inning via an error but then went on a roll to retire 18 in a row before walking K.D. Kang in the seventh inning. He reached the ninth and recorded the first out before Bowie's Mike Yastrzemski sliced a 0-2 pitch inside the line in left for a double. Despite losing the no-hitter, the start still goes down as one of the best (if not the best) start by a single pitcher in franchise history. It was the first time in the history of the franchise that a pitcher threw a one-hit, complete game shutout. It was also the first time since 2009 that a Curve pitcher tossed a nine-inning, complete-game shutout.

A native of Sammamish, Wash., Sampson is in the midst of a breakout season with the Curve as at the time of this release he ranks third in the Eastern League in terms of ERA at 2.58. In addition, Sampson ranks among the league leaders in innings pitched (122.0, 1st), WHIP (1.07, 2nd), batting average against (.230, 2nd), batting average against for a starter (.230, 2nd) and fewest baserunners per 9 IP ratio for a starter (9.96, 2nd).

On a team level, Sampson leads the team in wins (eight) and strikeouts (86) while only walking 28 batters in 122.0 IP. He began the season as the 27th-best prospect in the Pirates system according to Baseball America and has only increased his status since the season began. The eight wins this year are already a career-high while his 86 strikeouts have also become a career-best, passing the 85 he accumulated in 140 innings last season. He was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft out of Bellevue Community College.

Sampson, who has turned in quality starts in 13 of his 20 starts this season, is scheduled to make his next start on the road in New Britain on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 p.m.

Altoona (39-63) will open up its seven-game road trip in New Britain tonight at 7:05 p.m. The Curve return home on Monday, July 28 to open up the first of the last three homestands of 2014. For tickets and more information, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

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Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2014


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