Curve’s pitching pounded
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The Altoona offense was stymied for the second time this week against the Somerset Patriots in a 12-1 loss in front of 3,707 fans at PNG Field Friday night.
"I thought we hit a couple balls hard, but we really just couldn't get anything going," Curve manager Andy Fox said. "Somerset pitcher Baron Stuart kept us off balance, and we had some traffic, but just couldn't really get anything going."
Somerset scored runs in six of the nine innings against Altoona and knocked starting pitcher Derek Diamond around to the tune of five earned runs on seven hits in 2ª innings.
Diamond was not initially supposed to start -- Anthony Solometo was scheduled but was placed on the injured list ahead of the game.
"You're always planning for Plan B, and then with Solometo we knew a couple days before, so it kind of gives a chance to kind of map things out a little bit," Fox said. "A normal game, we were covered, but unfortunately, we just couldn't get through some innings."
Enmanuel Chapman tossed 1 1/3 innings, allowing only an unearned run on one hit to cool off the Patriots bats, but that didn't last long.
Somerset torched reliever J.C. Flowers for six runs on five hits in only 1 2/3 innings of action before the Curve bullpen was able to shut down the Patriots for the final 2 1/3 innings.
Altoona entered the game having won two in a row and had shown quite a few sparks of the offense coming alive in their two victories, but managed one hit in the first eight innings before a two-hit ninth inning.
Curve shortstop Mike Jarvis had a hit and RBI, which plated center fielder Sammy Siani in the fourth inning for the lone run of the evening.
Outfielder pitching
With a 12-1 deficit, Fox turned to left fielder Tres Gonzalez to pitch the ninth inning. Gonzalez slammed the door on the Patriots, shutting them down needing only seven pitches.
It marked the second time this season Gonzalez has appeared in a game on the rubber this season and the third appearance for a position player pitching this year.
"Fortunately for trust, you know, he's able to throw strikes," Fox said. "You never want to use a position player, but it's just kind of the way it goes, and thankfully, he's able to get through it."
Johnson removed
In the top of the seventh inning, second baseman Termarr Johnson was removed from the game with a lower body injury.
Johnson was injured in a collision with Jarvis in the outfield beyond second base. He was on the ground for quite some time as he was attended to but was able to walk off under his own power.
"He's a little banged up right now, but nothing awful, as of right now," Fox said. "They'll recheck him tomorrow and see what his status is."
Roster moves
Ahead of Friday night's game the Curve announced a bevy of roster moves.
RHP Cristofer Melendez (right elbow) and LHP Anthony Solometo (left shoulder) were placed on the seven-day IL. RHP J.C. Flowers and catcher/infielder Shawn Ross were transferred to Altoona to take their roster spots.
Up next
Altoona will send RHP Po-Yu Chen to the mound Saturday against the Patriots. Chen tossed 2ª innings and allowed three runs in his start Sunday against Akron.
On Sunday, it will be RHP Alessandro Ercolani for Altoona. He allowed one run in three innings against Somerset on Tuesday.