Curve Break Out Bats on Cowboy Monkey Night
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Updated: June 19, 2012
The MLB rehabber piloted the Curve through the first three innings unscathed before the bats came to life with a three-run third inning. Stefan Welch and Evan Chambers connected for back-to-back singles to start the inning and were moved up 90 feet by a sac bunt from leadoff man Robbie Grossman. Brock Holt followed with the second of his two doubles to clear the bases and place the Curve out in front, 2-0. Jarek Cunningham doubled behind Holt to drive in the Curve's shortstop for the inning's third run, which wound up being more than enough for Karstens and the Curve pitching staff.
Despite not needing any more runs, the Curve offense provided Karstens with some more with another three-spot in the fifth inning thanks to some timely hitting and a 'Cats defensive miscue. Grossman led off the inning with a hit, moved to second on a groundout by Holt and then to third on a passed ball. Cunningham delivered again with a sac fly to make it, 4-0.
Miles Durham continued the inning with a two-out double and then Ramon Cabrera reached on a fielding error by James Beresford to keep the inning alive. Quincy Latimore made the error more costly by tripling to the base of the wall in center to clear the bases and spring the Curve to a 6-0 lead.
Karstens allowed his only run of the game with two down in the seventh after a walk and a double. Phil Irwin pitched the final two innings of the game and didn't allow a hit while striking out three.
Holt finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI while Grossman, Cunningham and Welch had two-hit nights. For Welch, his two hits came in his first two at bats of the evening and that followed hits in his final three at bats on Sunday at Binghamton. All told, Welch had hits in five straight at bats that included a home run and four singles. He also drove in three runs across his five straight at bats with a hit.
From Altoona Curve reports:
