The Curve's best pitcher and the club's frontrunner for MVP this season both have been selected to the Eastern League All-Star team.
Pitcher Rudy Owens and catcher Hector Gimenez received those honors Thursday. It's the first time since 2007 the Curve had a player selected and first time since 2006 they had multiple players chosen.
Owens entered his start Thursday leading the EL with a 2.67 ERA and has a strong chance to be named the league's Pitcher of the Year.
The only Curve pitcher to receive that award was Sean Burnett in 2003.
Owens was 10-6 with 118 strikeouts and only 22 walks in 138 innings entering play Thursday.
"Rudy is the model of consistency with incredible poise and focus," manager Matt Walbeck said. "He has amazing control and prepares as well as anyone I've seen."
Fact Box
Eastern League
All-Star team
Selected by league managers, coaches and media:
PositionPlayerTeam
CHector GimenezAltoona
1BMatt RizzottiReading
2BRyan AdamsBowie
SSDanny EspinosaHarrisburg
3BBrandon LairdTrenton
OFDarin MastroianniNew Hampshire
OFBen RevereNew Britain
OFEric ThamesNew Hampshire
UtilityRay ChangPortland
DHJoel GuzmanBowie
RHPKyle DrabekNew Hampshire
LHPRudy OwensAltoona
RelieverRafael CovaRichmond
Gimenez leads the Curve with 16 homers and was fifth in the league in hitting at .301 heading into Thursday's game. He also has 66 RBIs in 86 games.
"Hector is one of our leaders and puts the team before himself every day," Walbeck said. "He is a true field general that has carried us with his bat all year."
- Cory Giger
