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Neil Walker to rehab with Curve

Pirate expected to rehab at PNG

From Mirror reports

HARRISBURG – Pirates second baseman Neil Walker will begin a rehab assignment with the Curve on Thursday and is expected to play at least two games at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

That’s the good news from the Curve’s perspective Tuesday.

The bad news occurred in Harrisburg as the club not only got pummeled, 13-2, but prized pitching prospect Jameson Taillon had to leave the game early after getting hit on the left shin by a comebacker in the fourth inning.

Taillon was able to walk off on his own power. He suffered a left shin contusion, but no other information was available after the game.

Walker is on the major league disabled list after getting injured on a slide into second base April 27. He needed six stitches on his right index finger.

Walker is expected to play Thursday and Friday against Richmond at PNG Field, then will be re-evaluated.

Walker played for the Curve in both 2006 and ’07 on his way to the major leagues. He hit .161 in 10 games late in the 2006 season and had a solid year in 2007, hitting .288 with 13 homers and 66 RBIs.

Taillon got off to a rough start in the first inning Tuesday as he allowed two runs. He walked the leadoff man in the fourth before giving up the comebacker single to Rick Hague.

Both of those runners came around to score against reliever Nate Baker but were charged to Taillon (2-4), who gave up four runs – two earned – in three-plus innings. He struck out three, walked one and allowed seven hits.

The Curve entered the game with the best team ERA in the Eastern League but got hammered for 11 earned runs, which dropped them to fourth. Baker allowed four runs in three innings, and Jhonathan Ramos gave up five runs in two innings.

The Curve have lost seven out of eight games, and their offensive problems continued as they had only three hits. Andrew Lambo hit his team-best sixth home run, and Gift Ngoepe had an RBI double.

Harrisburg starter Nathan Karns (3-1) gave up two runs in five innings for the win, striking out eight with three walks. The Curve struck out 13 times and continue to lead the Eastern League in that category.

Game recap

Key player: Senators LF Jimmy Van Ostrand went 4-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs.

Key play: RHP Jameson Taillon had to leave the game after getting hit on the left shin by a comebacker in the fourth inning.

Key stat: The Curve had only three hits and struck out 13 times.

How they scored

Bottom 1st: Goodwin reached on Lambo error, scored on Bloxom sacrifice fly (0-1); Rendon doubled, scored on Van Ostrand single (0-2).

Top 4th: Lambo solo homer (1-2).

Bottom 4th: Leon walked, scored on Lozada single (1-3); Hague singled, scored on Bloxom bases-loaded walk (1-4); Goodwin walked, scored along with Lozada on Van Ostrand single (1-6).

Bottom 5th: Rojas reached on Lozada error, scored on Ngoepe double (2-6).

Bottom 6th: Rendon walked, scored on Van Ostrand two-run homer (2-8).

Bottom 7th: Head singled, scored on Lozada single (2-9).

Bottom 8th: Bloxom singled, scored on Hood single (2-10); Van Ostrand doubled, scored on Leon double (2-11); Hague groundout scored Hood (2-12); Leon scored on Johnson sacrifice fly (2-13).

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