Curve Win Streak Snapped at Six Games
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Updated: July 25, 2012
Starter Gerrit Cole (2-4) had an easy first inning but ran into trouble in the second with two down when he walked Leandro Castro. R-Phils shortstop Troy Hanzawa followed with a single to right-center that got under the glove of Quincy Latimore, who was playing centerfield, and that allowed Castro to try and score. Latimore retrieved the ball and fired it back toward the infield where Matt Curry was there to receive and relay towards home.
Curry's relay throw got past catcher Ramon Cabrera as Castro slid home and Hanzawa ended up at third due to the two errors on the play. Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone (9-7) singled inside the bag at third to bring Hanzawa home and Reading led, 2-0.
Both runs were unearned to Cole, who got a run of support in the very next frame when Brock Holt singled home Drew Maggi to cut the deficit to one. Cole then settled in through the third and fourth, retiring eight in a row before a one-out walk of his mound opponent Pettibone in the fifth. Jiwan James smashed a single back through the middle of the infield to put two on for Asche, who hit the first of his two homers on the night to place Reading up, 5-1.
Altoona couldn't get much going all night against Pettibone, who tied a season-high with seven innings pitched. The Yorba Linda, Calif. native gave up just three Curve hits and the one run while striking out six batters en route to his ninth win of the season. The Curve bats were held silent by Jordan Whatcott and Jay Johnson over the final two innings.
The six runs allowed in the game is the most the Curve pitching staff has allowed since giving up 10 runs to Richmond back on July 17. In the eight games prior to tonight, no opposing team had scored more than three runs.
Holt finished the day with two of the Curve's three hits while Adalberto Santos had the other.
From Altoona Curve reports:
