NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Curve entered their recent road trip on a high note, they return to Altoona on anything but one.
With a 13-4 loss to New Britain on Sunday, the Curve completed their six-game road trip without a win. The Curve have been outscored 41-24 on their current six-game slide, which started Tuesday in Trenton.
The Curve, who were one game above .500 a week ago, are now 54-59.
On the road trip, the Curve's bullpen was not dependable, which was the case Sunday at New Britain Stadium.
Prized prospect Gerrit Cole got the start for Altoona. The right hander had to work through a 22-minute rain delay, but managed to go 4 innings.
Cole got a no decision as he allowed two runs on three hits and struck out two batters while walking two. The No. 1 overall pick in last year's MLB draft now has a 3.93 ERA, a 2-4 record and 37 strikeouts in eight starts with the Curve.
Fact Box
Covering the bases
LEADING OFF: The Curve's current six-game losing streak matches their longest of the season. Their first six-game skid occurred from May 8-13.
SAFE AT FIRST: With a 21-37 record away from Peoples Natural Gas Field, the Curve aren't good on the road, but they're especially bad in road games played during the day. With another loss on Sunday afternoon, the Curve are now 2-12 in road day games.
STEALING SECOND: Though they lost by nine, the Curve did hold the lead briefly Sunday. OF Quincy Latimore hit a homer in the third inning to give the Curve a 2-0 lead, it was Latimore's 13th home run of the year, which leads the team.
ROUNDING THIRD: With Gerrit Cole turning in a solid start for Altoona, the Pirates' top draft pick from the 2010 draft is heating up in Bradenton. In his last two starts for the Pirates' High-A affiliate, RHP Jameson Taillon has combined to throw 12 scoreless innings.
HEADING HOME: The Curve return home tonight to start a seven-game homestand. RHP Phil Irwin, who has been the Curve's best starter in the last month, will get the nod against second-place Bowie in the series opener.
- Stephen Pianovich
When Cole left the game, the Curve actually led the game, 2-1, but things quickly turned sour for the visitors.
Mike Colla came out of the bullpen to relieve Cole and though there was just one runner aboard and two outs, the Rock Cats ended up scoring five runs in the fifth inning.
Oswaldo Arcia got the scoring started in the frame with an RBI single, and the other four runs came on one swing. The Rock Cats loaded the bases and Joe Benson cleared them with a grand slam to give his team a 6-2 lead, which it never surrendered. Benson went 3-for-5 on the day and had a total of five RBIs.
Colla (4-5) allowed six runs on five hits in 1 innings and took the loss. Things weren't much better for his bullpen mate Jeff Inman, who came in to pitch in the seventh inning. Inman gave up five runs in 1 innings, and he issued four walks on top of giving up six hits.
In an untraditional move, outfielder Drew Maggi eventually came in to pitch for the Curve. In what was Maggi's first professional appearance on the mound, he got Aaron Hicks to groundout with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning.
During the road trip, the Curve's bullpen had a combined 11.07 ERA and went 0-4.
B.J. Hermsen (9-5) gave up three runs on four hits in six innings and got the win for New Britain.
Game recap
Key player: New Britain CF Joe Benson was 3-for-5 with a five RBIs.
Key play: Benson's grand slam with two outs in the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie.
Key stat: Curve relievers had a combined 11.07 ERA on the team's six-game road trip.
How they scored
Top 3rd: Cutler walked, scored on Latimore two-run homer (2-0).
Bottom 4th: Aricia doubled, scored on Romero single (1-2).
Bottom 5th: Hicks singled, scored on Arcia single (2-2); Herrmann walked, Colabello walked, both scored along with Arcia on Benson grand slam (2-6).
Top 6th: Holt singled, scored on Curry single (3-6).
Bottom 7th: Herrmann singled, scored on Colabello double (3-7); Benson singled, scored along with Colabello on Romero three-run homer (3-10).
Bottom 8th: Herrmann walked, Arcia singled, both scored on Benson double (3-12); Roof groundout scored Benson (3-13).
Top 9th: Cunningham solo homer (4-13).
