Two-Out Runs Sink Curve in Reading
Win: Seth Rosin (2-3)
Loss: Stolmy Pimentel (2-2)
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TOG: 2:18
Attendance: 3,758
READING, Pa. - A pair of home runs by the Curve offense was not enough to get by the Reading Fightin Phils in a, 6-3, loss Monday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Fightins scored five of their six runs off Curve starter Stolmy Pimentel (2-2) and all five runs were scored with two outs.
A string of tough starts continued for Pimentel, who seemed to settle in nicely after allowing three early runs to Reading in the first inning. With two away in the first, Tommy Mendonca doubled before Jim Murphy drove him in with a single to score the first run of the night. Cameron Rupp followed Murphy's single with his sixth homer of the season and the Fightins were in front, 3-0.
Pimentel blanked Reading in the second and third innings before Jarek Cunningham homered with two away in the fourth inning to get the Curve on the board. Fast forward to the fifth and the Curve inched closer when Pimentel helped himself out with a RBI groundout that brought home Mel Rojas, Jr., who'd tripled earlier in the inning.
With the deficit at one, Pimentel took the mound for the fifth and retired the first two hitters before he walked leadoff man Albert Cartwright. Edgar Duran capitalized on the two-out walk and turned on a pitch and drove it into the pool in right field for a two-run homer that had Reading back in front by three, 5-2.
Pimentel was able to hold Reading off the scoreboard in the sixth and seventh to end his night. The seven innings pitched by the San Cristobal, D.R. native tied a career-high and it's the second time this year that he's completed seven innings. He allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out five in his outing on Monday night.
His mound opponent Seth Rosin (2-3) was impressive on Monday, dealing a career-high eight innings and allowing just two Curve runs with eight strikeouts.
Adalberto Santos tried to rally the troops in the ninth with his second home run of the season, a solo homer with one out off reliever Tyler Knigge. Andrew Lambo followed with a walk but Knigge recovered to get Cunningham and Stefan Welch to fly out to end the game.
Game two of this series and game five of the road trip for the Curve (19-25) will take place at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday night from FirstEnergy Stadium. Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (1-0, 1.93) is expected to make another rehab start for the Curve on Tuesday night after pitching Thursday morning's finale back in Curve, Pa. He'll be opposed by Fightin Phils ace LHP Jesse Biddle (2-3, 2.95) on Tuesday night.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. For tickets and more information on the Memorial Day weekend homestand in Curve, Pa. that begins Friday, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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